Rangers Fall To Astros 3-1 At Home As Yu Darvish, Adrian Beltre Leave Early

Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish left due to shoulder tightness after five innings of the team’s 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night, in what was his third start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2015.

Rangers Fall To Astros 3-1 At Home As Yu Darvish, Adrian Beltre Leave Early

The Japanese pitcher had just thrown a 63 mph breaking ball for a strikeout in the fifth when he began stretching out and shaking his right arm. After he walked the next batter, the Rangers’ pitching coach and trainer rushed to the mound to examine Darvish’s right shoulder.

Despite the loss, Darvish, 29, said following the game that he wasn’t concerned about his injury, which he says was caused by tightness and his neck.

Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers’ head physician, examined Darvish but didn’t discover any issues.

“I believe that tomorrow, I think I can play catch, no problem,” the right-hander said through his interpreter. “Everybody told me after the Tommy John surgery you go through all those small things from the different places on your body. I think it’s one of those things and I’m not too concerned about that.”

The Rangers had hoped Darvish would throw up to 95 pitches after he won both of his first two starts. Instead, he threw 76 pitches with seven strikeouts and four walks before leaving with the game tied 1-1. The only run he allowed was a home run to George Springer leading off the game.

“Any time a player comes off the field, there’s concern,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I’m not going to overplay it, and I’m not going to underplay it in any one direction until we get reevaluated.”

Right-handed reliever Shawn Tolleson replaced Darvish to start the sixth inning. Tolleson, who hadn’t pitched since May 25, worked a scoreless sixth, but the Astros collected three hits off Rangers reliever Tom Wilhelmsen in the seventh. The third was the game-winner, a two-run double by Jose Altuve.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre also exited early after feeling tightness in his left hamstring in the eighth inning. However, Beltre’s injury, which came after rounding second base, seemed more serious. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday. Jurickson Profar took over as a pinch-runner and then played third base, just as he will Thursday in what was already a scheduled day off for the 37-year-old Beltre.

The Astros (29-32, 3rd in AL West) ended an eight-game losing streak to the Rangers (36-23, 1st in AL West) this season. On the game’s third pitch, Springer lined a homer over the left-field wall for a 1-0 Houston lead. In the third inning, catcher Jason Castro walked and stole second. In the fourth, Luis Valbuena doubled to right and would have scored on Evan Gattis’ hard-hit ball to left, but Rangers center fielder Jared Hoying made a leaping catch against the wall.

“The fastball command seemed to come and go,” Banister said of Darvish. “First outing, he was exceptional. Second outing, he got away with a little bit and today was very similar. We didn’t feel like he was nailing the fastball the way he’s accustomed to and that made it a little bit challenging.”

The two teams will next face off again at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on Thursday afternoon. Astros Right-hander Collin McHugh (5-4) will make his first start against Texas this season. Left-hander Martin Perez (4-4) will start for the Rangers, also for the first time against the Astros this season. He will hope to earn his fourth consecutive victory.

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 08: Yu Darvish #11 of the Texas Rangers throws in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 8, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)