Numbers: How Yu Darvish beat the Astros
* Got ahead: Darvish started 21 of 31 hitters (68 percent) with a first-pitch strike, his highest percentage since April 30.
* Getting strike one has been key for Darvish all season. Although his 88 strikeouts are tied for ninth in the majors, no pitcher has more strikeouts after getting ahead 0-1 than Darvish (66). Seven of his 11 strikeouts Friday came after he started the hitter with a first-pitch strike.
* After getting ahead Friday, Darvish stayed out of hitters' counts. He went to just two 2-0 counts and one 3-1 count, both his fewest in a start this season. Overall, he threw a season-best 69 percent strikes.
* Thirteen of the 18 balls (72 percent) in play against Darvish were ground balls, his highest percentage this season. He recorded 10 ground-ball outs, including a season-high two double plays.
Additional note from Elias Sports Bureau: Darvish has won all six of his home starts this season. Darvish is the fourth pitcher over the last 50 years to win each of his first six career home starts. Dave Wickersham did it for the Royals in 1962-63, Mark Fidrych for the Tigers in 1976, Carlos Perez for the Expos in 1995 (won his first eight home starts) and Kason Gabbard for Boston and Texas in 2006-07.
Richard Durrett
ESPNDallas.com
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Reid Ryan joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss his new position with the Houston Astros and whether he could see his dad, Nolan, joining him there in the future.
Play Podcast ESPN MLB Insider Jayson Stark joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss if the Rangers are the best team in baseball, what makes them so good and if he thinks the team will trade Jurickson Profar.
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Ron Washington's decision to send Yu Darvish to the mound for the eighth inning Thursday night and how he would handle a situation like that if he were still a GM.
Play Podcast Randy Galloway, Matt Mosley and Glenn "Stretch" Smith discuss the latest Rangers news, including the Yu Darvish-Justin Verlander matchup.
Play Podcast Nelson Cruz joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Rangers' series in Oakland, his ups and downs at the plate and if the PED talks before the season were a distraction.
Play Podcast Rangers manager Ron Washington joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett live from Oakland for his weekly visit.
Play Podcast Nolan Ryan joins Galloway & Company to discuss his role with the Rangers. Ryan says that he has not been in contact with the Astros about a possible opening and he doesn't think that he would be interested anyway.
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett for his weekly visit and wastes no time sounding off on MLB umpire Angel Hernandez.
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAK | 24-22 | 13-10 | 11-12 | W4 | |
| TEX | 29-16 | 14-6 | 15-10 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAK | 24-22 | 13-10 | 11-12 | W4 | |
| TEX | 29-16 | 14-6 | 15-10 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEX | 29-16 | 14-6 | 15-10 | L1 | |
| SEA | 20-25 | 11-9 | 9-16 | L4 |
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Yu Darvish
|
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | L. Berkman | .309 | ||||||||||
| HR | N. Cruz | 11 | ||||||||||
| RBI | N. Cruz | 33 | ||||||||||
| R | E. Andrus | 28 | ||||||||||
| OPS | M. Moreland | .922 | ||||||||||
| ERA | Y. Darvish | 2.97 | ||||||||||
| SO | Y. Darvish | 86 | ||||||||||
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