Darvish to start Texas' wild-card showdown

OAKLAND, California — Yu Darvish will start the Texas Rangers' first playoff game — and he finally knows all the details about who and when.

Manager Ron Washington announced Darvish as his pick before the Rangers lost their regular-season finale at Oakland 12-5 on Wednesday to wind up as an AL wild card.

"Of course I'm ready," Darvish said through an interpreter. "If I'm not ready I probably wouldn't be picked. I'm going to approach it like any other start. I'll try to pitch well and give my team a chance to win."

The two-time reigning AL champion Rangers will play in the new one-game, wild-card playoff on Friday at home against the Baltimore Orioles.

"He's finally Yu Darvish," Washington said of the club's prized offseason pickup. "I don't know the date, but it was Boston. He found Yu Darvish then, and he's been Yu Darvish since. He was searching to find what he was capable of doing over here. And I think he realizes now that competing in a relaxed, trusting and believing, that there was something he was searching for all year and he finally found it. Which is what he is when he's at his best, which is what all pitchers are when they're at their best."

The 26-year-old Darvish is 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 29 starts and 191? innings in his first major league season after a stellar career in Japan. The 195-cm right-hander struck out 221 batters, issued 89 walks and was an All-Star.

He won his final four decisions and hasn't lost in six starts since Aug. 17.

Washington met with Darvish after his Aug. 6 start at Boston, a 9-2 loss in which he was tagged for six earned runs and 11 hits in 6? innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. Darvish has lost only once since, at Toronto on Aug. 17.

"Mainly, it's mental. I'm pitching with more of a strong mind and with confidence," Darvish said.

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Beltre home run lifts Rangers; Darvish earns 16th win

ANAHEIM, California — Although Adrian Beltre was nearly doubled over in abdominal pain before the game, he still demanded a spot in Texas manager Ron Washington's lineup.

Sweet 16: Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish prepares to field the ball against the Angels on Thursday. Texas won 3-1. KYODO

After Beltre's ninth-inning homer, the Los Angeles Angels were the ones with a sick feeling in their stomachs.

Beltre hit a tiebreaking two-run shot off closer Ernesto Frieri, and the Rangers dealt yet another blow to Los Angeles' fading playoff hopes with a 3-1 victory Thursday night.

Texas (89-60) improved the AL's best record and stayed four games ahead of Oakland (85-64) in the AL West by taking two of three from the Angels (81-69), who dropped 4? games behind the Athletics and Baltimore in the AL wild-card standings.

After a scintillating eight-inning duel between Yu Darvish and Zack Greinke, Beltre connected for his 34th homer against Frieri (3-2), who wasted a fine start by Greinke for the second time in six days.

"I was glad to be in there, and I'm just glad (Washington) allowed me to be in there," Beltre said. "This is the time of year you want to play. It's not the place or time to relax right now, especially against an opponent in our division."

Beltre missed Wednesday's game and nearly sat out Thursday with abdominal troubles before talking his way into the lineup during batting practice. He went 0-for-3 against Greinke, but smashed a hanging slider from Frieri after Michael Young's leadoff single.

"That was the pitch that I wanted to throw," Frieri said. "He hit it. So what? Every pitch that I made is because I wanted to throw it. He's a good hitter, and that happens. Maybe I didn't put that pitch where I wanted to put it, but I wanted to throw that pitch."

Darvish (16-9) held the Angels to four hits and struck out nine while matching Greinke, who gave up five hits and struck out eight. Neither team managed an extra-base hit in the first eight innings.

Darvish was largely unhittable for the fifth consecutive start, repeatedly mixing 153-mph fastballs and 105-kph breaking balls while retiring 14 of the Angels' first 16 hitters. The rookie is actually getting better as he closes in on his first major league-playoff experience, leaving Young marveling at the right-hander's improvements.

"I'm learning about myself, especially before this (good) stretch, when I wasn't consistent and wasn't performing," Darvish said through a translator. "These outings are something the team expects. They acquired me to perform like this."

Joe Nathan gave up a two-out double to Albert Pujols in the ninth, but got Kendrys Morales on a fly to finish his 34th save.

The Rangers won their second straight game without slugger Josh Hamilton, who will return to Texas for further examination of a sinus condition.

Yankees 10, Blue Jays 7

In New York, streaking Ichiro Suzuki hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a seven-run fourth inning that was capped by Nick Swisher's grand slam, and the Yankees beat Toronto to open a one-game AL East lead over idle Baltimore.

Ichiro, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, homered in the third, then doubled in the fourth. His ninth hit in 10 at-bats chased Aaron Laffey (3-6).

Athletics 12, Tigers 4

In Detroit, Seth Smith homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and Oakland roughed up Anibal Sanchez to avoid a three-game sweep.

Royals 4, White Sox 3

In Kansas City, Alex Rios was thrown out at the plate, Alexei Ramirez was picked off third base and AL Central-leading Chicago again failed to come up with a clutch hit.

Rays 7, Red Sox 4

In St. Petersburg, Florida, B.J. Upton hit a game-ending, three-run homer off Vicente Padilla, capping Tampa Bay's six-run ninth in a win over Boston.

Indians 4, Twins 3 (10)

In Cleveland, Casey Kotchman hit an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to lead the Indians to a win over Minnesota.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Nationals 4, Dodgers 1

In Washington, the Nationals brought postseason baseball back to the nation's capital for the first time since 1933, earning a playoff spot.

"Nats Clinch" flashed on the scoreboard as Washington ensured at least an NL wild-card spot behind Ross Detwiler's six strong innings and Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double.

Reds 5, Cubs 3

In Chicago, Cincinnati became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season.

Phillies 16, Mets 1

In New York, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley sparked an eight-run first inning, Ryan Howard added a late grand slam and the Phillies routed the inept Mets.

Cardinals 5, Astros 4

In St. Louis, pinch hitter Carlos Beltran snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run double and Allen Craig hit a three-run homer.

Brewers 9, Pirates 7

In Pittsburgh, Rickie Weeks hit a tying two-run triple and scored the go-ahead run on Aramis Ramirez's single.

Norichika Aoki was 2-for-6 with an RBI for Milwaukee.

Giants 9, Rockies 2

In San Francisco, Pablo Sandoval homered from both sides of the plate and the NL West-leading Giants reduced their magic number to clinch the division to four.

Padres 6, Diamondbacks 5

In Phoenix, Jesus Guzman homered to help San Diego get the victory.

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Darvish beats Iwakuma for 15th win

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish can throw fastballs by hitters. He can also freeze them with the slow-breaking curve.

Arms race: Rangers starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Mariners on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Darvish and the Rangers won 9-3. KYODO

Darvish surpassed 200 strikeouts in his rookie season while getting his 15th victory for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers in a 9-3 win against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

"Instead of trying to incorporate all the weapons he has, he's coming out of the bullpen recognizing what's working and he's using them," manager Ron Washington said. "One time it's his slider, one time it's his four-seamer. Today, it was his cutter . . . and the slow breaking ball."

Darvish (15-9) struck out nine in seven innings. The 196-cm right-hander often complemented a fastball in the low 150s with a breaking pitch about 48 kph slower.

"It's a tough pitch, something you're not used to," Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager said. "It definitely throws your timing off a little bit. He located really well with it. When he threw them, he threw it with a purpose."

Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton homered for the Rangers against Hisashi Iwakuma (6-5), like Darvish, a former Pacific League MVP and in his first year in the major leagues.

Darvish retired 12 of his last 13 batters, striking out seven in that stretch. He allowed only two hits and walked two while throwing 79 of his 110 pitches for strikes.

Darvish made his major league debut against the Mariners five months ago, a game he won after giving up four runs in the first inning. He had a 9.00 ERA in three previous starts against them.

"Just the difference between throwing against them tonight and my previous outings against them, I think it's just throwing strikes," Darvish said through his translator. "Or more precisely not feeling like I have to throw a strike."

It was Darvish's third consecutive start of at least seven innings while allowing three hits or less. The only other Texas pitcher to ever do that was Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, now the team president. He did it in 1990.

With 205 strikeouts, Darvish is the first major league rookie over 200 since Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out 201 batters for Boston in 2007. He is the 16th rookie, sixth in the American League, to record 200 strikeouts.

It was only the eighth time Japanese starters pitched against other in the majors, but Darvish and Iwakuma faced each other six times in Japan. Darvish threw a complete game for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in a 2-0 win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Iwakuma, who worked 8? innings in that game, last season.

"It's not really any different between Japan and the major leagues for me," Iwakuma said through a translator. "We're friendly. In Japan, we go to dinner sometimes and I keep in touch with him."

After Carlos Peguero led off the fifth with a strikeout, Darvish's fourth of the game and 200th of the season, the Japanese star quickly added to that total. Trayvon Robinson took a called third strike and Munenori Kawasaki struck out swinging, missing a 151 kph pitch right after taking a 99 kph curve over the plate.

"The hitters, I felt like they were starting to time all my other pitches, or their timing was starting to come together," Darvish said. "I talked it over with (catcher Geovany) Soto during the game to start using that slower curve more."

Reliever Koji Uehara struck out two in a scoreless eighth for Texas.

Kawasaki got the start at shortstop and finished 0-for-2.

Rays 6, Yankees 4

In New York, David Price earned his league-leading 18th win with another superb performance against the Yankees.

Good effort: Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma pitches against the Rangers on Friday. AP

New York's Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-1 in an appearance as a pinch hitter.

Athletics 3, Orioles 2

In Oakland, Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run homer while playing with a sore right wrist, and the AL wild card-leading Athletics beat Baltimore to prevent the Orioles from moving into sole possession of first place in the AL East.

White Sox 6, Twins 0

In Minneapolis, Chris Sale threw six scoreless innings for his 17th victory after being rained out the night before, helping Chicago keep its one-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central.

Tigers 4, Indians 0

In Cleveland, Justin Verlander pitched seven shutout innings and made sure Detroit stayed in step with first-place Chicago in the AL Central.

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 5

In Toronto, Mauro Gomez hit a tiebreaking triple in the ninth inning.

Angels 9, Royals 7

In Kansas City, pinch hitter Kendrys Morales had a two-run homer during an eighth-inning rally that sent Los Angeles past the Royals.Rangers hurler Ks nine to reach 205 for the year

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Darvish, others have decisions to make ahead of next WBC

The big news last week was that the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association decided to compete in next year's World Baseball Classic.

The next challenge two-time defending champion Japan faces may come when it's time to actually fill out the roster.

The timing of the WBC, in early March, during MLB spring training, could prove problematic for a few of Japan's top players.

The main target for Samurai Japan's team-builders will be Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. The elephant in the room, however, could be Daisuke Matsuzaka's hip circa 2009.

Matsuzaka was the MVP of the 2009 WBC — an honor teammate Hisashi Iwakuma deserved more, but that's a different story — then suffered through an injury-riddled season for the Boston Red Sox, making just 12 starts and finishing 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 59? innings.

Matsuzaka later revealed he'd initially injured himself during training for the WBC and pitched with the injury during the tournament, all without the knowledge of the Red Sox medical staff.

The Red Sox were still in the midst of an investment of over $100 million in Matsuzaka and popular sentiment in Boston was that the team got damaged goods in 2009 because of Matsuzaka's exertions in the WBC.

Which brings us to Darvish.

Darvish is enduring the rigors of an MLB schedule for the first time, and the Rangers may not be particularly anxious to see him pitching for Japan in the spring.

Remember, Matsuzaka in 2009 already had two major league seasons (and seven postseason starts) under his belt, and even then there seemed to be a tacit level of uncertainty in New England about his participation.

And that was before the era of Stephen Strasburg and the increased attention paid to how many innings young pitchers, with hefty price tags, throw. Darvish has tossed 169? innings so far this year and probably has one or two more regular-season starts before the postseason begins.

Unless he's injured, Texas can't bar Darvish from competing, but after spending over $110 to acquire him, the team would probably prefer the innings logged on his arm come in a Rangers uniform.

Darvish was mum on the subject last week when it was announced Japan would compete.

Similarly, prospective free agents such as Hiroyuki Nakajima will have a choice to make.

Nakajima, currently the Seibu Lions' shortstop, is expected to pursue a job with a MLB club over the winter, but would he, or a player in a similar situation, be willing to cut his first-ever spring training in the States short to help Japan retain its title?

Matsuzaka and Mariners pitcher Iwakuma might also be on the hunt for new contracts and may deem it in their best interests to save their arms for MLB competition.

Major League teams in the past have expressed hesitance about having their star players risk injury prior to the season, and though Derek Jeter and many other All-Stars competed in both the 2006 and 2009 editions of the WBC, many have also passed.

There's also the question of what to do with Ichiro Suzuki. The 38-year-old Yankees outfielder is inarguably on the decline, though still a skilled player, and Japan's next manager will have to decide if he still warrants a starting job, or if the team is stronger with a younger player patrolling the outfield, with Ichiro's legendary status only making the choice that much harder.

Japan cleared perhaps the biggest hurdle toward a third straight title by getting the JPBPA on board, but for a team that doesn't even have a manager yet the fun has just begun.

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Darvish racks up 14th win

KANSAS CITY — Yu Darvish did not throw a no-hitter, though there was some concern in the Kansas City dugout that he might.

Strong season continues: Texas starter Yu Darvish fires a pitch against Kansas City on Monday. The Rangers won 8-4. KYODO

Darvish retired the first 17 batters, Texas hit five home runs and the Rangers beat the Royals 8-4 Monday in a game that turned testy.

The Royals did not get a baserunner until Johnny Giavotella walked on a close pitch with two outs in the sixth. David Lough, the next batter, ended the no-hitter with a bloop single to center.

"I turned to (bench coach) Chino (Cadahia) in about the fifth inning and said 'Boy, this guy's got a shot,' " Royals manager Ned Yost said.

"The variation in speeds was tremendous. It was the first time we've seen him. It was our first time seeing him and he was fantastic."

Lough, playing in just his third major league game, hit it just out of the reach of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.

"It takes one hit sometimes and other guys can feed off it," Lough said. "I saw him going back for it and I was hoping it would fall in.

"He was definitely switching it up on us. His off-speed stuff was working well, keeping us off balance."

The only opposing pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium is Darvish's boss, Rangers president Nolan Ryan on May 15, 1973.

Darvish (14-9), who retired the final seven batters he faced in his previous start, tied Wade Miley of Arizona for the most victories by a rookie this season.

Darvish gave up a two-run triple to Tony Abreu and a RBI double to Alex Gordon to cut the Texas lead to 6-3 before the inning ended. Darvish was pulled after the seventh and struck out six, including five in the first three innings, and walked one.

Bruce Chen (10-11) allowed six runs on six hits, four of them home runs. He lasted six innings as his career ERA against Texas climbed to 8.68.

Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning. Cruz watched his drive sail over the wall, then was hit by Louis Coleman's first pitch leading off the ninth.

Cruz took a few steps to the mound, but was restrained by catcher Brayan Pena. The dugouts and bullpens emptied, but only words were exchanged. Both teams were issued a warning by plate umpire Mike Everitt.

"We were trying to pitch in on him, to keep him from extending his arms," Yost said. "You saw what he did the last at-bat when he got his arms extended. We were just trying to pitch him in."

Michael Young answered that by homering on the next pitch.

Josh Hamilton hit his 38th homer and Geovany Soto added a three-run shot as Texas won for the ninth time in 12 games. The AL West leaders moved a season-high 26 games over .500 with some more pop after they hit four homers Sunday in win at Cleveland.

"They've got a big-time offense," Royals designated hitter Billy Butler said. "They're a high-powered offense and got eight runs on us. Darvish was throwing strikes and mixing it well, pounding the strike zone, and definitely executing every pitch. . . . We hit some balls well and didn't get some hits on them, too."

Orioles 4, Blue Jays 0

In Toronto, Joe Saunders and three relievers combined on a three-hitter and charging Baltimore blanked the Blue Jays, cutting its AL East deficit to one game.

J.J. Hardy drove in two runs as the Orioles won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Rays 4, Yankees 3

In St. Petersburg, Florida, James Shields pitched eight strong innings to outlast CC Sabathia and light-hitting Chris Gimenez drove in two runs, helping the Rays beat the Yankees.

New York, which led the AL East by 10 games earlier this summer, had its edge cut to one game by Baltimore.

The Yankees' Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-3, striking out twice.

Indians 3, Tigers 2

In Detroit, Asdrubal Cabrera's tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning lifted Cleveland to a win over the Tigers, giving right-hander Corey Kluber his first career victory.

Angels 8, Athletics 3

In Oakland, Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer in a three-hit day, Vernon Wells had a solo shot and RBI single, and the Angels snapped the Athletics' season-best nine-game winning streak.

Mariners 4, Red Sox 1

In Seattle, Jason Vargas pitched seven solid innings and the Mariners sent Boston to its season-worst seventh straight loss.

White Sox 4, Twins 2

In Chicago, Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Hector Santiago won in his first major league start as the White Sox beat Minnesota and moved back into sole possession of first place in the AL Central.

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Darvish notches 9th victory

SAN DIEGO — Once Yu Darvish settled down after the second inning, the San Diego Padres didn't have a chance.

Racking them up: Texas starter Yu Darvish fires a pitch against San Diego in the first inning on Wednesday. The Rangers won 4-2. AP

Darvish held San Diego to five hits over eight innings and got his first major league hit to help the Texas Rangers beat the Padres 4-2 on Wednesday for their sixth straight win.

Darvish (9-4), who struck out eight and walked three, leads all big league rookies with nine victories. He pitched for Japan at Petco Park in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

"He just couldn't find his rhythm to get the ball where he wanted to," manager Ron Washington said of Darvish, who allowed a two-run single to Padres starter Anthony Bass in the second inning.

"He just kept emphasizing what he needed to do. After the second inning, when they scored those runs, he finally did it," noted Washington. "Once he found it, he was on from there on. He just began to pound the strike zone. The sixth, seventh and eighth innings were innings that a good pitcher shows you he's not going to be denied. Once we took the lead, it was over."

Yorvit Torrealba, who was with the Padres in 2010, drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the sixth to bring in Josh Hamilton with the go-ahead run. The Rangers swept the three-game series and improved to 12-3 in interleague play, the best in the majors this year.

"I asked the interpreter to tell the pitching coach, Mike Maddux, and Wash, I think it was somewhere around maybe after the third inning, I know my pitch count is up a little bit, but please don't base me getting taken out just on pitch count," Darvish said through an interpreter, after throwing 122 pitches. "I can throw into the seventh, eighth still, it's no problem. But if you guys feel like it's the right situation to take me out, or maybe my approach or the substance of my pitching is not good, then that's fine. I have no problem with that."

Washington had reliever Mike Adams warming up in the eighth just in case, but Darvish finished the inning.

"I reminded him that we had tomorrow off so I probably would have five days between starts (as is common in Japan)," Darvish said. "Throwing 130 pitches in Japan is a matter of course

"As the game went on, my body got warmed up and began to respond like I normally expect it to."

Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances.

The Padres have lost five of six since their only three-game sweep of the season, at Seattle last week. San Diego (24-46) has the worst record in the majors.

Darvish allowed multiple baserunners in the first two innings. He walked consecutive batters with one out in the first before getting Chase Headley to line out to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who doubled Cameron Maybin off second to end the inning.

After Alexi Amarista's double down the left field line was interfered with by a fan, putting runners on second and third with two outs in the first, Bass singled just inside first base to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. Bass then stole the first base of his career.

"We had some good at-bats early," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Anthony got the big at-bat there in the second inning. We had some guys on but it seemed as the game went on, he got stronger. He threw his pitches in and around the plate more consistently."

Darvish hit a broken-bat single in the third for his first big league hit. He was promptly doubled off first after Amarista, the second baseman, caught Kinsler's liner, ending the inning.

Darvish wasn't all that thrilled with the hit.

"I think if I was a hitter I might feel extreme joy, but as a pitcher, I don't feel as much so," he said.

Alberto Gonzalez, who was with San Diego last year, singled with two outs in the fifth to bring in David Murphy, who walked and stole second.

Bass left with inflammation in his right shoulder after allowing one run and three hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.

The Rangers went ahead in the sixth with two runs on two hits and three walks off three relievers. With one out, Michael Young singled, Hamilton doubled and Adrian Beltre walked to load the bases against Dale Thayer (0-2). Nelson Cruz grounded to Headley at third base. Rather than going for the bag and then throwing to second, Headley threw to second for the second out but Amarista's throw to first didn't get Cruz, and Young scored.

Alex Hinshaw came on and walked pinch hitter Craig Gentry. Brad Boxberger came on and walked Torrealba to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

Young hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

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Darvish raises record to 6-1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Expectations for Yu Darvish were every bit as big as the contract he signed to move from his native Japan.

Team ace: Texas starter Yu Darvish fires a pitch in the first inning against Oakland on Wednesday. The Rangers beat the A's 4-1. AP

He continues to meet and perhaps even exceed them.

Darvish pitched 7? strong innings and Adrian Beltre had a two-run homer to help the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Wednesday night.

"He was very efficient and made them swing the bat," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Broke his cutter out tonight and moved his fastball around the zone."

Darvish (6-1) gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven to win his sixth game in seven decisions and give a weary Rangers bullpen a rest.

After giving up a run in the first, Darvish settled down and retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced. He lowered his ERA to 2.60. Texas committed more than $107 million to acquire Darvish.

Mike Adams struck out Johnny Gomes, who represented the tying run, for the final out in the eighth. Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth his eighth save.

"No matter what the situation, I try to throw as many innings as I can and go as long as possible," Darvish said through an interpreter.

"I was able to throw with less effort," Darvish said. "Getting taken out in the middle of the eighth is something that I'm not completely satisfied with."

Angels 7, White Sox 2

In Anaheim, Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Chicago.

Rays 2, Red Sox 1

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings, Luke Scott had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and Tampa Bay snapped Boston's five-game winning streak.

Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1

In Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive and the Blue Jays beat New York.

Toronto tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for seven runs and eight hits.

Indians 9, Mariners 3

In Cleveland, Ubaldo Jimenez overcame a shaky start to get the win and the Indians pounded out a season-best five doubles to beat Seattle.

The Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-4 with a walk.

Twins 11, Tigers 7

In Detroit, Jamey Carroll hit a two-run double in the sixth to give Minnesota the lead, and the Twins outlasted the sloppy Tigers, who made four errors in the first three innings.

Orioles 4, Royals 3 (15)

In Kansas City, Adam Jones homered with one out in the 15th, lifting Baltimore to a victory over the Royals.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Marlins 8, Braves 4

In Atlanta, Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch and Miami beat the Braves, adding another win to their impressive May record.

The Marlins are 12-3 this month after a slow 8-14 start in April.

Padres 4, Dodgers 2

In San Diego, Chase Headley homered, doubled and drove in three runs, and the Padres rallied to beat Los Angeles.

Nationals 7, Pirates 4

In Washington, Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a three-run double for his 1,000th career hit after homering for No. 999, and Gio Gonzalez took over the NL strikeout lead from teammate Stephen Strasburg by fanning 10 in seven innings in a win over Pittsburgh.

Phillies 9, Cubs 2

In Chicago, Carlos Ruiz hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning and Philadelphia used Hector Luna's first career grand slam to pull away against the Cubs.

Reds 6, Mets 3

In New York, Todd Frazier homered twice, Brandon Phillips hit a tying single off Jon Rauch in the eighth and Cincinnati beat the Mets.

Cardinals 4, Giants 1

In San Francisco, Jaime Garcia matched his career high with nine strikeouts, David Freese hit a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning, and St. Louis beat the Giants.

Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 1

In Denver, Jamie Moyer handcuffed Arizona at the plate and in the field, pitching neatly into the seventh and driving in two runs with an infield single to lead Colorado.

Moyer (2-3) allowed one earned run and six hits in 6? innings, walked two and struck out five.

Astros 8, Brewers 3

In Houston, Carlos Lee had three hits, including his first homer since April 22, and three RBIs to back another solid outing by Bud Norris as the Astros beat Milwaukee.

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Darvish honored as AL's top rookie for April

NEW YORK — Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish was named the American League Rookie of the Month for April, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.

With five starts under his belt, Darvish has a 4-0 record with 33 strikeouts and 17 walks over 33 innings. The 25-year-old's ERA of 2.18 placed fifth in the American League.
AL Player of the Month honors went to Darvish's teammate Josh Hamilton, who batted .395 in April with nine home runs.

Darvish's next scheduled start is on Sunday at the Cleveland Indians.

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Rangers move Darvish up in rotation

ARLINGTON TEXAS — Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wednesday he decided to adjust the rotation to have sensation Yu Darvish start Monday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The move will allow extra rest for Neftali Feliz, who was moved from the bullpen to the rotation this season, while Darvish's start has been pushed up by one day following his 2-0 victory against countryman Hiroki Kuroda and the New York Yankees Tuesday night.

Darvish tossed 8? scoreless innings against the Yankees for his third win of his rookie season.

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Darvish wild in start

Settling in: Rangers starter Yu Darvish pitches to Cleveland's Choo Shin Soo during a spring training game on Tuesday. AP

GOODYEAR, Arizona — Yu Darvish is no one-pitch wonder for the Texas Rangers.

Unable to command his lively fastball, Darvish delivered devastating breaking balls to work out of trouble during the first three innings of the Rangers' 8-8 tie with the Cleveland Indians in 10 innings Tuesday.

"I didn't feel that good and could not command my fastball," Darvish said through interpreter Joe Furukawa to the media throng after walking four and allowing two runs and three hits.

Darvish limited the damage by getting Choo Shin Soo to ground into a double play. Texas catcher Yorvit Torrealba helped by throwing out two would-be basestealers.

"If Torrealba is not catching, I think I'd give up 10 runs today," Darvish said. "Some of my pitches were so bad I don't think any hitters would swing at them."

Rangers bullpen coach Andy Hawkins wasn't so sure about that.

"His secondary pitches were as sharp as can be," Hawkins said. "With the bases loaded, he got two ground balls. One bounced through; the other was a double play. You like to see guys get nothing but outs, but he worked out of things today."

Yangervis Solarte's two-run homer off Indians starter Josh Tomlin helped Texas take a 7-0 lead after three.

Asdrubal Cabrera, Jason Kipnis and Lou Marson had 2 RBIs apiece for Cleveland, which went ahead 8-7 against the Rangers' bullpen.

"He's got good stuff," Kipnis said of Darvish. "He's got life on his fastball and looks comfortable out there. He struck me out with a good split-finger."

Darvish walked the first two hitters he faced. Torrealba erased both trying to steal second. The right-hander yielded a single to Jose Lopez in the second, then fanned Kipnis and Fred Lewis, before running into a jam in the third.

Jack Hanrahan reached on a double when center fielder Craig Gentry stumbled trying to make a running catch. Gentry left with a sprained left wrist. X-rays were negative.

Darvish then walked Marson and Michael Brantley and allowed a two-run ground ball single by Cabrera. He got Choo to bounce into the double play and finished off his second spring start by getting Travis Hafner on a fly ball to center.

"He got out of it with minimal damage," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Just because he didn't command it today doesn't mean he's an erratic pitcher. He works off his fastball, but when it is not there you go somewhere else. When you are a pitcher, you find a way. He did.

"If this was a regular game he stays in and maybe he finds it and puts up zeros and suddenly you're in the seventh inning. That's what good pitchers do and he's a good pitcher."

Darvish is learning to adapt to baseball, American-style.

"Usually in Japan, when struggling, a pitcher is allowed to play catch while his team is hitting," he said. "They don't do that here. I'm going to have to adjust."

Darvish said his only surprise thus far had been a pleasant one — the work ethic of his teammates.

"It is amazing how much time players put in before and after games," he said.

Non-roster invitee Greg Miclat's RBI single in the ninth tied it at 8.

TAMPA, Florida — Bobby Valentine smiled his big, wide smile, surrounded by media, talking about the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Baseball's hottest rivalry gets a new provocateur this year.

"The intensity will be interesting. Looking forward to it? Who knows?" he said.

Valentine stood in the third base dugout at Steinbrenner Field before his Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 1-0 Tuesday night in the first of two meaningless spring training meetings that serve as an appetizer for the 18 bitter, tense and often lengthy games during the regular season.

"It will be more than I expect and probably some of what I felt from the outside," he said. "I've been in both Joe Girardi's office and Tito's (Terry Francona's) office during the rivalry. I've seen their faces. I've heard their voices, so I get that. I've seen the fans. I've read the newspapers. I've heard the talk shows and the TV casts, and I'm looking forward to it."

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Rangers introduce Darvish

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish leaned over and looked at his name and the No. 11 on the back of his Texas Rangers jersey. Then he looked up and smiled.

New sheriff in town: Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish shows off his new uniform between manager Ron Washington (left) and general manager Jon Daniels at a news conference on Friday in Arlington, Texas. KYODO

"Excited, that's all I feel right now," Darvish said through a translator. "Just excited going forward."

Japan's best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.

The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in the Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn't prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.

But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country.

"I have no worries," he said. "What I'm looking forward to is a different environment, a different league and different hitters. I'm looking forward to it full of excitement."

There is a lot of excitement in Texas, where fans are hoping Darvish is the missing piece that will help lift the Rangers to their first World Series title.

The Rangers spent more than two years scouting Darvish and getting to know him personally before committing more than $107 million to get him. On top of his contract, they have to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

The Darvish news conference was held in a much bigger room that is part of the team's Hall of Fame area at Rangers Ballpark, instead of the usual interview room down the hall from the clubhouse.

Among those sitting in the front row were Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, the oil-and-gas billionaires who are co-chairmen of the Rangers ownership group, and slugger Josh Hamilton. Simpson smiled when he walked in and saw the room full of international media.

"We've had a lot of big moments on the field the last couple of years, in October and the things we've accomplished," general manager Jon Daniels said while introducing Darvish. "There haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments than what brings us here."

After the news conference, the 196-cm Darvish donned his new jersey and went on the field, where he stood on the mound and tossed a couple of balls toward the plate.

Highlights of Darvish's career in Japan were being shown on the huge video board high above right field. The electronic ribbon boards around the stadium were lit up with Darvish's image with his number and name, switching back and forth between English and Japanese.

Darvish's contract is worth up to $60 million including bonuses and incentives, but there was one thing he apparently didn't get in his deal after standing on the mound and looking out to the right-center field fence in his only other visit to Rangers Ballpark two weeks ago.

"It seemed a little close, I asked my GM if they could back that up a little bit, not sure where they are on that," he said.

When asked about that, Daniels laughed and motioned toward Hamilton.

"I don't think Josh wants us to move them back," Daniels said. "We'll let them arm wrestle and figure it out."

Darvish arrived about three hours earlier at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where he was greeted by a large group of media cameras and a handful of Rangers fans.

There was a bit of a stir created by the photos of the arrival, when Darvish wore a T-shirt with the phrase "I Will Survive" surrounding the image of a Japanese maple leaf, which looks similar to a marijuana leaf.

"In Japan, anything that's like a T-shirt with English words on it," he said. "We just tend to wear it, we don't really actually know what it means."

SANTO DOMINGO — The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona issued a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the United States.

"I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.

Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.

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Darvish deal yet another wakeup call for the NPB

Yu Darvish got his wish, the Texas Rangers got their man and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got their money.

Hopefully, somewhere in there the NPB got a clue.

Once the Rangers agreed on a six-year $60 million deal with Darvish, the curtain finally dropped on the most gut-wrenching offseason NPB has seen in a long time.

In addition to Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Tsuyoshi Wada, Chen Wei-yin, Norichika Aoki and Munenori Kawasaki are all headed to the U.S. in an incredible exodus of top-level talent which nearly also included Hiroyuki Nakajima.

One one hand, it's a testament to the level of talent present in Japanese baseball. It also, however, puts on display Japanese baseball's inability to hold on to that talent.

Baseball has a long and storied history in Japan, but unless changes are made, there is a danger of the NPB turning into a glorified feeder system for the majors — at least as it pertains to the upper echelon of players.

That's not to say there is a particular threat to Japanese baseball's viability, because there isn't and it would be irresponsible to suggest as such. The MLB and NPB will continue to coexist the way they have for years.

There is, however, a lot of room for improvement in Japan. NPB teams need to do a better job fostering a professional environment and treating their players more like stars than high-priced salarymen.

As interesting as it will be to see how Darvish fares in the majors, it would have been great for Japanese baseball to have him set the world on fire on this side of the Pacific. The MLB is currently the best baseball league in the world, but Japanese fans don't deserved to be shortchanged.

To put it more succinctly, NPB needs to give players like Darvish a reason to stay.

Major league players are used to things being first-class all the way, from travel, to lodging, to practice facilities. That's not always the case for NPB players.

Take for example the plight of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (and their opponents), forced to stretch and warm up on a public field prior to games on days Jingu Stadium is being used by college players.

Now try to imagine a scenario in which the Los Angeles Dodgers are forced to perform pre-game activities in a public space while USC uses Dodger Stadium.

Try kicking the New York Yankees out of the Bronx for the type of three-week road trip the Hanshin Tigers deal with each year.

Major league teams also generally pay better. NPB teams can't compete with the size of MLB budgets. Then again, there are mechanisms in place in MLB to help lower-revenue teams stay competitive.

NPB teams, meanwhile, are too busy looking out for themselves to invest in bettering the game as a whole.

Japanese baseball can't set-up the MLB system — or anything close to it — but there has to be a way for the 12 clubs to come up with something where everyone benefits, which in turn can improve the environment for the players.

The MLB is the pinnacle of the sport, and there are some players who will always naturally gravitate there to follow in the footsteps of Masanori Murakami, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

That's something beyond Japanese baseball's control. What NPB can do, however, is make a more concerted effort to keep its best players in Japan.

Doing that, however, goes beyond money. It requires a change at the upper reaches of the game, from the way teams are run, to the way players are treated.

Until something changes, a majority of the best players will continue to leave Japan at the height of their popularity. Unless, of course, the NPB finally gives them a reason to stick around.

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Darvish visits Texas; Rangers tight-lipped

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish is visiting Texas for the first time during a 30-day window the AL champion Rangers have to negotiate a contract with the pitcher.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed reports from Japanese media that Darvish was in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday. Daniels wouldn't discuss the state of negotiations with Darvish or any plans for meetings during the visit by the 25-year-old right-hander.

The Rangers put out a statement later Tuesday that said Darvish was visiting Texas for the first time and was with his representatives. The team said it was releasing no details about the visit and not commenting during the negotiation process.

"He felt it was appropriate to make the trip at this time," the Rangers said.

The Rangers, who have won consecutive AL pennants, put in a record bid of about $51.7 million for the right to negotiate with Japan's best pitcher. A 30-day negotiating window began when their bid was accepted Dec. 20 by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. They only pay the fee if they sign the player.

Darvish, the son of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, went 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA last season. He had 276 strikeouts to lead the Pacific League.

Darvish pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was a member of the Japanese team that won the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Darvish, who turned pro in 2005 at age 18, has superb control and throws seven effective pitches.

Texas has lost its No. 1 pitcher in free agency after each of the last two World Series.

Cliff Lee left after the 2010 season to return to Philadelphia, and left-hander C.J. Wilson agreed to a $77.5 million, five-year contract with the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels last month.

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Darvish plans move to MLB

Yu Darvish ended months of speculation Thursday by saying he intends to make a move to Major League Baseball.

The 25-year-old right-hander, considered the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball, wrote on his blog that he had decided to use the posting system, which allows MLB teams to bid for the negotiating rights to Japanese players who have yet to become free agents.

"I have decided to use the posting system," he said. "I wanted to tell my fans directly, so that is why I am posting this on my blog."

Darvish, the son of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, went 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA this season for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. He had 276 strikeouts to lead the Pacific League.

The Fighters had given him approval to negotiate with a major league club through the posting system. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki went to the major leagues under the system.

"I owe a lot of thanks to my team," Darvish said, adding he would provide more details at a yet-to-be-scheduled news conference.

Darvish pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was a member of the Japanese national team that won the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The 196-cm Darvish has superb control and throws seven effective pitches, including a two-seam fastball introduced during the 2010 season. It's expected he would make a top-of-the-rotation major league starter.

Darvish turned pro in 2005 at the age of 18. His pro career got off to a rocky start when he was caught smoking in a pachinko parlor on an off day during his first spring training, despite not being old enough to legally smoke nor to gamble at the time.

After going 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA in his rookie season with the Fighters, Darvish had a breakout year in 2006, going 12-5 with a 2.89 ERA and 115 strikeouts.

In 2007, Darvish won the Eiji Sawamura Award presented to the top pitcher in Japanese professional baseball after posting a 15-5 record with a 1.82 ERA and a league-leading 210 strikeouts.

Darvish has a 93-38 career record with a 1.99 ERA in 167 games. The two-time Pacific League MVP kept his ERA below 2.00 the past five seasons.

Once posted by the Fighters, MLB clubs can submit sealed bids for the right to negotiate with Darvish. If the Fighters accept the highest bid, the MLB club that placed that bid will then have 30 days to finalize a contract with the player. If no deal is reached, Darvish returns to the Fighters for another season and the Fighters must return the posting fee to the MLB club.

In 2006, former Seibu Lions pitcher Matsuzaka drew a $51.1 million posting fee from the Boston Red Sox, which then signed him to a six-year, $52 million contract, taking the total package to more than $100 million.

Darvish's departure will be a massive blow to Nippon Ham, but the Fighters have decided to let him go as he has done so much for the club.

"Now Darvish is the No. 1 pitcher in Japan, but we want him to become the ace of the world," Nippon Ham team representative Toshimasa Shimada said.

New manager Hideki Kuriyama has to think about a team without Darvish.

"There is no better pitcher in Japan than Darvish, so it's going to be very, very hard for us," Kuriyama said. "I'll just try to build a team that can still compete for a title next year."

DALLAS AP, — Wanting to add a backup infielder following injuries to Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez last season, the New York Yankees won negotiating rights to shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of the Seibu Lions.

"I'm thankful that the club with great traditions made a bid for me," Nakajima said. "I look forward to seeing how the Yankees evaluate my ability."

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday the Yankees had the highest bid in the posting process. New York has 30 days to reach an agreement with Nakajima and will pay the posting fee only if an agreement is reached. The posting fee for the 29-year-old is $2.5 million.

"This is about acquiring talented players to put them on our club," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He'll be asked to do a number of things."

New York said it would have room for both Nakajima and Eduardo Nunez as reserve infielders.

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Inaba homers as Darvish records 11th victory

CHIBA — Yu Darvish threw eight effective innings as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters avoided a three-game sweep by the Chiba Lotte Marines with a 4-3 win on Thursday.

Fight on: Atsunori Inaba hits a home run in the eighth inning of the Fighters' game against the Marines on Thursday in Chiba. Nippon Ham won 4-3. KYODO PHOTO

Darvish (11-2) allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits in eight innings en route to his baseball-leading 11th win.

The 24-year-old ace struck out five and walked two in a 108-pitch outing at QVC Marine Field.

Lotte took a 1-0 lead in the third on Masato Watanabe's inside-the-park home run, in which left fielder Sho Nakata misfielded what would have been just a single.

The second-place Fighters came right back in the fourth with a two-run homer by Yoshio Itoi.

A run-scoring error by Lotte first baseman Jose Castillo made it 3-1 for Nippon Ham. Atsunori Inaba added a solo home run in the eighth.

"It was nice that my solo shot turned out to be a crucial one for our win," Inaba said. "I wasn't sure if my fly ball would stay fair, but it did with a little help from the wind.

"Darvish was pitching for us, so we just couldn't lose. He was visibly frustrated on the mound at times, but he didn't make things worse. He's really mature now."

Hisashi Takeda closed out the game to pick up his 22nd save.

Lotte rookie Atsushi Kobayashi (0-2) was charged with three runs in seven innings.

Eagles 4, Buffaloes 3

At Osaka's Kyocera Dome, Ryo Hijirisawa hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the fifth inning to make a winner out of Masahiro Tanaka as Tohoku Rakuten beat Orix.

Tanaka (9-2) allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings. Yuki Nishi (5-3) took the loss. Darrell Rasner earned his first career save in Japan.

CENTRAL LEAGUE

Tigers 3, Dragons 1 (11)

At Nagoya Dome, Takashi Toritani scored the opening run after doubling in the 11th, when catcher Kohei Oda muffed a relay throw at the plate and another run scored on closer Hitoki Iwase's throwing error in Hanshin's win over Chunichi.

Akihito Fujii added an RBI grounder for insurance.

Kyuji Fujikawa (2-0) got the win in relief and rookie Daiki Enokida got his first career save despite allowing an RBI triple by Tatsuro Iwasaki in the bottom of the 11th.

Swallows 3, Giants 2 (11)

At Jingu Stadium, Norichika Aoki hit a bases-loaded infield RBI single for the game-winning run with two outs in the 11th inning as Tokyo Yakult completed a three-game sweep of Yomiuri.

Saburo Omura had an RBI single to open the scoring in the fourth before Hayato Sakamoto's solo shot in the fifth gave the Giants a 2-0 lead. Yakult rallied in the eighth, which featured Josh Whitesell's game-tying RBI single.

Yomiuri fell 10 games below .500.

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Darvish fans 15 batters in victory over Eagles

Tough break: Eagles hurler Hisashi Iwakuma yields a two-run sixth-inning homer to slugger Sho Nakata in a 2-0 loss to the Fighters on Tuesday. KYODO

SENDAI — Yu Darvish struck out a career-high 15 and pitched his first shutout of the season in a duel with Tohoku Rakuten ace Hisashi Iwakuma, leading the first-place Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters past the Eagles 2-0 on Tuesday.

In a meeting of potential future major leaguers, Darvish held Rakuten to six hits in a 136-pitch outing at Kleenex Stadium, where the Eagles lost their fourth in a row.

Darvish (4-1), tipped to be Japan's next biggest export to the majors, spent his high school years in northern Sendai at Tohoku High School. Miyagi Prefecture was one of the areas hardest hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

"I'm really happy about this," said Darvish. "I wanted to pitch well in front of the people here but at the same time, I felt a little uneasy about trying to beat Rakuten at their home."

"I'm glad I won in the end, though," he added.

Three of Darvish's 15 strikeouts came against former Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Another former big-league infielder, Kazuo Matsui, struck out twice.

"I thought my performance was good tonight facing a very good Rakuten lineup," Darvish said. "But it wasn't easy out there. It was tough."

Iwakuma (3-2) called it an evening after getting two outs in the ninth and throwing his 131st pitch. He allowed nine hits and walked two, striking out seven in his fifth start of the season.

Fourth-year slugger Sho Nakata backed up Darvish with a two-run shot off Iwakuma in the sixth over the center field wall, his fifth homer on the year.

Micah Hoffpauir also had three hits for Nippon Ham.

"I had a feeling he might hit one out and he did," Darvish said of the 22-year-old Nakata, who is starting to show signs of coming into his own. "He made it easier for me to be out there."

Hawks 10, Buffaloes 1

At Fukuoka's Yahoo Dome, Softbank had a season-high 15 hits to pound Orix as Tsuyoshi Wada pitched seven scoreless innings to improve to 2-1.

Marines at Lions — ppd.

CENTRAL LEAGUE

BayStars 8, Giants 1

At Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Yokohama capped its first four-game winning streak in two years to climb out of the CL cellar behind five strong innings from Takayuki Makka (1-0).

Makka struck out seven and allowed one earned run on a solo shot to Hisayoshi Chono in the fourth.

Tigers at Carp — ppd.

Dragons at Swallows — ppd.

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Lions rough up Darvish

Takumi Kuriyama and Hiroyuki Nakajima drove in four runs apiece to lead a 12-hit onslaught against a shaky Yu Darvish in Seibu's 12-3 romp of Hokkaido Nippon Ham on Tuesday.
Darvish (0-1) was rocked for a career worst seven runs in seven innings. Hideaki Wakui (1-0) threw three-run ball over eight innings. Nakajima hit a three-run blast off Darvish in the seventh.

Buffaloes, 2, Hawks 2 (12)

Aarom Baldiris and Mitsutaka Goto hit solo homers in the eighth and ninth inning, respectively, and Tsuyoshi Wada failed to protect the lead as Orix played PL champion Softbank to a 12-inning tie.

Giants 9, Swallows 2

At Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hisayoshi Chono hit a three-run drive to break open the game in the seventh inning, Shun Tono (1-0) won the decision in his first role as Opening Day pitcher and sloppy defensive play led to Yakult's defeat at UPR Stadium.

Tigers 7, Carp 4

At Koshien Stadium, Hanshin rallied in a three-run sixth inning, Atsushi Nomi (1-0) allowed three runs in 6? innings and Hanshin rallied to beat Hiroshima. Kenta Maeda (0-1) took the loss.

BayStars 5, Dragons 4

At Yokohama Stadium, Yuta Naito had a pinch-hit game-ending single in the ninth inning, for his career first walkoff hit as Yokohama edged the Chunichi.

In an effort to conserve electricity, Japan pro baseball is planning to hold some weekday games in the daytime in April due to the crisis facing the Tokyo Electric Power Co.

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