Yu Darvish has not allowed a hit through seven innings against the struggling, but defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
Yu Darvish loses perfect game, has no-hitter through 7 innings
Is the fourth time the charm for Yu Darvish? The Rangers phenom is close to finally getting a no-hitter, this time against the Red Sox after three close calls with the Houston Astros.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Darvish's night includes 10 strikeouts through seven innings. He has already eclipsed Kenny Rogers' Rangers' 8 strikeouts from the last no-hit or perfect game in franchise history. Rogers, who threw his against the then-California Angels in July of 1994, also had the only perfect game in team history. The game, which happened just two weeks before the strike, is the last time that a Rangers pitcher has gone the distance without letting up a hit, but it was the fifth time overall in team history.
Before Rogers, Jim Bibby and Bert Blyleven had the first two in team history. This was followed by all-time strikeout and no-hitter leader, Nolan Ryan, who had two of his record seven with the Rangers franchise.
And while all of this is noteworthy, the fact this game is happening for Darvish against a team that isn't from Houston is perhaps most remarkable. Three separate times in his first two years in the league, Darvish brought a no-hitter or better bid to the sixth inning or later against the Astros. The first bid in April of last year was the closest, broken up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The other two, while less dramatic, saw the phenom go sixth perfect and eight no-hit.
The play that ended the perfection can be seen below, and involved a misplay of the shift by the right fielder on a routine play. It was ruled an E9.
This play is not often called an error, but considering it fits the textbook definition of “reasonable effort,” it’s at least technically correct.
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