Chicago Cubs

Yu Darvish Has Wild Debut in First 2019 Start

Darvish also struck out four batters and gave up three earned runs in 2.2 innings

Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish made his season debut on Saturday night against the Texas Rangers, but things didn’t exactly go swimmingly for the hurler as he battled his former team.

Darvish, who only appeared in eight games last season due to a variety of arm issues, lasted just two and two-thirds innings in the game, giving up a staggering seven walks and three earned runs while striking out four batters in the first game of his season.

Darvish ended up throwing 75 pitches to retire eight batters, and was relieved by Steve Cishek in the third inning of the game.

Meet Your 2019 Chicago Cubs

According to Baseball Reference, Darvish is just the fifth Cubs starting pitcher in this decade to give up seven or more walks in a start, joining Tyler Chatwood, Carlos Zambrano, Jeff Samardzija, and Jake Arrieta.

The Rangers also set a franchise record thanks to Darvish’s interesting outing. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers’ first 10 batters of the game did not put the ball in play, which set a new record for the club. The team’s first nine batters of a July 1972 game didn’t put the ball in play, which had been the record until this evening.

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