After a disastrous first inning where he threw 44 pitches and gave up 4 runs, Yu Darvish settled down, giving up only one more run over the next 4 2/3 innings and putting himself in a position to get his first career win.
And while he got to experience first hand how dangerous MLB hitters can be in the Ballpark in Arlington, he also got the benefit of having MLB hitters hitting for him as well.
The Rangers line-up battered Seattle rookie Hector Noesi, who lasted only 3 innings in his MLB debut. Noesi, whom the Mariners acquired in an off-season deal with the New York Yankees, gave up 7 hits and 7 earned runs.
Ron Washington gave Darvish some extra rope, letting him pitch the top of the sixth, where he retired two batters before giving up a single to Ichiro Suzuki that sent Alexi Ogando into the game.
Ogando promptly struck out former Rangers farmhand Justin Smoak, giving Texas an 8-5 lead after six innings.