Darvish also struck out four batters and gave up three earned runs in 2.2 innings
By James Neveau ••
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.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Jason Heyward #22 following a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on August 26, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
NBC Sports - Boston
RHP Brad Brach: 2-4 record, 3.59 ERA, 60 K's in 2018
TELEMUNDO DALLAS
RHP Tyler Chatwood: 4-6 record, 5.30 ERA, 85 K's in 2018
Getty Images
RHP Steve Cishek: 4-3 record, 2.18 ERA, 78 K's in 2018
Mario Tama/Getty Images, File
RHP Yu Darvish: 1-3 record, 4.95 ERA, 49 K's in 2018
Getty Images
RHP Carl Edwards Jr.: 3-2 record, 2.60 ERA, 67 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
LHP Cole Hamels: 9-12 record, 3.78 ERA, 188 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
RHP Kyle Hendricks: 14-11 record, 3.44 ERA, 161 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
RHP Brandon Kintzler: 3-3 record, 4.60 ERA, 43 K's in 2018 season
Frank Franklin II/AP
LHP Jon Lester: 18-6 record, 3.32 ERA, 149 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
LHP Mike Montgomery: 5-6 record, 3.99 ERA, 86 K's in 2018 season
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
LHP Jose Quintana: 13-11 record, 4.03 ERA, 158 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
LHP Randy Rosario: 4-0 record, 3.66 ERA, 30 K's in 2018 season
Shutterstock
RHP Pedro Strop: 6-1 record, 2.26 ERA, 57 K's in 2018 season
Getty Images
C Victor Caratini: .232 AVG., 2 HR, 21 RBI in 2018 season
NBC 7
C Willson Contreras: .249 AVG., 10 HR, 54 RBI in 2018 season
NBC 5 News
INF Javier Baez: .290 AVG., 34 HR, 111 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
INF David Bote: .239 AVG., 6 HR, 33 RBI in 2018 season
NBCWashington
INF Kris Bryant: .272 AVG., 13 HR, 52 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
INF Daniel Descalso: .238 AVG., 13 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
Alex Matthews
INF Anthony Rizzo: .283 AVG., 25 HR, 101 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
INF Ben Zobrist: .305 AVG., 9 HR, 58 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
OF Albert Almora Jr.: .286 AVG., 5 HR, 41 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
OF Jason Heyward: .270 AVG., 8 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
Danna Dykstra Coy/WINTERFEST
OF Kyle Schwarber: .238 AVG., 26 HR, 61 RBI in 2018 season
Getty Images
OF Mark Zagunis: .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 2018 season
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.
