Yu Darvish wins MLB debut in Rangers' 11-5 win over Ms

ARLINGTON, Texas - Yu Darvish overcome a rocky start and got a big boost from the powerful Texas lineup, winning his much-anticipated major league debut in the Rangers' 11-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

After giving up four runs while throwing 42 pitches in the first inning, then allowing another run in the second, Darvish (1-0) settled down and later retired 10 in a row while pitching into the sixth.Yu Darvish had a feeling of calmness when he took the mound for his much-anticipated major league debut for the Texas Rangers
"It was pretty much a battle all night," Darvish said. "Just knowing my offence, if I could string those zeroes together, they would answer for me."

Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer in the third for Texas to tie the game at 5, then Mitch Moreland and Josh Hamilton both went deep in the fourth to give Darvish an 8-5 lead.

Ian Kinsler added a three-run blast in the eighth, his second of the season, then said after the game that he has agreed to a new $75 million, five-year contract. That deal is pending a physical and would start next season, replacing a $10 million option the team had for 2013.



Cruz, the ALCS MVP last October, got his first homer of the season when he pulled a liner into the left-field seats right after Hamilton was called out at home trying to score on Young's grounder.

Hamilton argued briefly with home plate umpire Paul Nauert, and replays showed that the slugger might have slid around catcher Olivo's tag.

There was no doubt about Hamilton scoring in the fourth, his second homer of the season a solo shot over the center-field wall off rookie right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.

That was the only run allowed in three innings by Ramirez in his major league debut.

Notes: Ogando, a 13-game winner and All-Star as a starter last season, went 1 1/3 innings. He has appeared in three of four games, with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. ... Neftali Feliz, the Rangers' closer-turned-starter, makes his first start Tuesday night against Seattle. He faces right-hander Blake Beaven, the former top prospect for the Rangers who was traded to Seattle two seasons ago in the Cliff Lee deal.