What looked to be a pitcher's duel between Texas Rangers sensation Yu Darvish and former Ranger CJ Wilson (facing the Rangers for the first time since signing with the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason) did not quite live up to the hype.
A two hour rain delay in the bottom of the first threw wrench into the playbill. Play was stopped with the Rangers already ahead 1-0 with the bases loaded and one out. Wilson did not return when play resumed, but was still responsible for all the baserunners, who would all eventually score.
Wilson's line was a laughable 1/3 inning pitched and four earned runs on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. He is also saddled with the loss.
Jerome Williams would relieve Wilson when play resumed, letting all of Wilson's runners score, as well as giving up two earned runs of his own. He would settle down slightly, but allowed two home runs to Josh Hamilton and gave up another earned run.
Hamilton's two home runs became the real story of the game. He now has eight home runs in his last five games. And he becomes only the third player in MLB history to hit 17 home runs through his team's first 33 games. Cy Williams did it for the Phillies in 1932 and Frank Howard for the Senators in 1968.
Darvish pitched very well, considering he had about a two and half hour rest between the first and second inning. His final line was 5 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts, three walks, and a hit batsman.
Mark Lowe relieved Darvish with one out in the sixth inning and retired the two hitters he faced. He would go on to pitch a scoreless seventh.
Mitch Moreland knocked his fourth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless eighth and Robbie Ross came on to pitch a scoreless ninth to seal an easy, albeit wet, victory for the Rangers.