Japan's Darvish erratic in second Texas outing

Japan's Yu Darvish was erratic in three innings of pitching on Tuesday in his second Major League Baseball exhibition start for the Texas Rangers, allowing Cleveland two runs over three innings. The 25-year-old right-hander surrendered three hits and four walks while striking out three Indians batters, but thanks to solid fielding behind him left the mound at Goodyear, Arizona, after three innings with Texas ahead 7-2. The Rangers, losers in the World Series the past two seasons, spent $107.7 million for Darvish, $56 million to sign him to a six-year deal in January after spending the rest simply for the exclusive rights to negotiate with him. In his first US appearance on March 7, Darvish pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two San Diego batters in a 36-pitch effort. Darvish threw 32 balls outside the strike zone in 61 pitches, making first-pitch strikes to only six of the 13 Cleveland batters he faced. He was replaced by compatriot Koji Uehara in the fourth inning. Rangers manager Ron Washington plans to start Darvish again next Monday when Texas will face Milwaukee. In the first inning, Darvish walked the first two batters he faced but Texas catcher Yorvit Torrealba threw out both runners trying to steal a base and Darvish struck out South Korean Shin-Soo Choo to end the inning. In the second, Jose Lopez tagged Darvish for a one-out single but the former Nippon Ham Fighters star struck out Cleveland's Jason Kipnis and Fred Lewis to end the inning. The Rangers scored six runs in the third inning for a 7-0 lead but the Indians answered by tagging Darvish, starting the inning with a double and two walks to load the bases. Cleveland scored on a single but Choo hit into a double play to bring home another run before Darvish induced a fly out to end the inning and his day.