ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish struck out nine and the Texas Rangers beat Oakland 6-2 on Wednesday night, giving the right-hander his first victory in his last 11 starts against the AL West-rival Athletics.
Darvish (4-3) had a demonstrative show of emotion, pumping his fist and letting out a shout, after striking out Coco Crisp to end the seventh inning. Darvish came back for the eighth, but was pulled after Danny Valencia's leadoff double.
Crisp struck out three times after homering on the second pitch of the game. Jake Smolinski went deep leading off the fifth for the only other run off Darvish.
All-Star center fielder Ian Desmond and recently acquired Jonathan Lucroy each had three RBIs as the AL-best Rangers completed a three-game series sweep.
Darvish's only win against the A's had been in his first start against them on May 16, 2012, which was only his eighth game in the majors after the previous seven seasons in Japan. He went 0-8 with a 5.24 ERA over the next 10 starts against Oakland, including a no-decision three weeks ago against the only opponent that has more than three wins against him.
Lucroy's homer in the fourth was his seventh in 15 games since being traded to Texas from Milwaukee on Aug. 1, and his career-high 20th overall for the season.
Desmond had a two-run single in the fifth for a 3-2 lead against rookie lefty Sean Manaea (4-8), and put the Rangers ahead to stay.
The Rangers added three runs in the seventh, on an RBI single by Desmond before Lucroy's two-run double.
SHORT HOPS
Darvish is 4-0 with a 2.80 ERA in his six starts at home this season. ... The A's lost their fifth straight game, and are a season-high 17 games under .500 (52-69). ... Desmond had his most RBIs since four against Toronto on May 15, when he had the go-ahead homer the half-inning before teammate Rougned Odor punched Jose Bautista.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: INF Tyler Ladendorf was put on the 15-day DL with a sprained left wrist. He is the 26th Oakland player to go on the DL this season, a franchise record. ... RHP Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) threw 75 pitches in a rehab start and could start for the A's on Sunday, a day after he is eligible to come off the DL.
Rangers: RHP Lucas Harrell went on the 15-day DL a day after facing only 12 batters and leaving his start after two innings because of a right groin strain. ... LHP Derek Holland is eligible to come off the 60-day DL on Sunday, but Martin Perez is listed as the Rangers probable starter at Tampa Bay that day.
UP NEXT
The Athletics and Rangers have the day off Thursday, the first for both since Aug. 1. Oakland opens a three-game series Friday at the Chicago White Sox, and Texas plays at Tampa Bay.
