The crowd was on its feet in Arlington, Texas on Friday, screaming “Yuuuu” with a no-hitter hanging in the balance. But for the third time in his MLB career, it was not meant to be for Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish.
Darvish was just one out away from the feat after pitching 8.2 no-hit innings against the Boston Red Sox, but David Ortiz stepped up to the plate and ripped a single through the right side of the infield to break it up.
Updates from Saturday, May 10
Fox Sports: MLB provides the MLB’s statement on the scoring of the Darvish/David Ortiz play:
Original Text:
Darvish was promptly pulled from the game my manager Ron Washinton, finishing with 12 strikeouts and two walks on 126 pitches. Alexi Ogando would come in to close out the 8-0 win.
The near no-no didn’t come without controversy. Ortiz skied a pop-fly in the seventh that dropped into no-mans land in right field, but it was ultimately ruled an error.
Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram broke down the ruling:
While an official decision on whether Ortiz will be awarded with two hits has not yet been handed down, the outcome will be no less disheartening for Darvish. Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald transcribed Ortiz’s comments after the game:
In just his third season with the Rangers, the Japanese sensation has been perfect through the first five frames on several occasions, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Bleacher Report MLB writer Zachary D. Rymer made his thoughts known on Darvish’s performance:
Brendan Kuty of NJ.con provides Tanaka’s take on Darvish’s outing:
The only concern for the Rangers now is how Darvish will perform during his next start. The outing had to take a toll on his arm, and it will be imperative for him to rest up before taking the mound opposite the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
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