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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Smoak slugs two HRs; Seattle bashes Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Smoak hit two three-run homers against his former team and the Seattle Mariners used a pair of early eight-run innings to rout the Texas Rangers for the second straight game, winning 21-8 Wednesday night.

Fly like a Byrd: Boston center fielder Marlon Byrd dives to catch a fly ball hit by Detroit's Gerald Laird during the eighth inning of the Red Sox's 6-4 win on Wednesday. AP

Smoak had three hits to go with his career high for RBIs as Seattle reached double digits in back-to-back games against the AL West leaders. Jesus Montero homered among his three hits and drove in four runs, and Kyle Seager had four hits and two RBIs. Every Seattle starter had at least one hit in amassing 20 overall.

For the Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki did not play, while pinch hitter Munenori Kawasaki popped out in the ninth.

Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma recorded the first save of his professional career on Wednesday, when he allowed three runs in the final three innings of the blowout victory.

The 31-year-old right-hander had not pitched in two weeks and admitted being rusty.

"It had been so long since I'd pitched and things didn't feel right," Iwakuma said.

Iwakuma, in his first big league season, allowed five hits and a walk while striking out none.

White Sox 4, Rays 3

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Alexei Ramirez drove in two runs and Chicago extended its best win streak of the season to eight games with a victory over Tampa Bay.

Hideki Matsui went 0-for-2 for the Rays.

Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1

In Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion hit one of the Blue Jays' four solo home runs, leading them to a three-game sweep of Baltimore.

Yankees 6, Angels 5

In Anaheim, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano homered during New York's five-run third inning, helping the Yankees snap Los Angeles' eight-game win streak.

Reliever Hisanori Takahashi (0-2) took the loss, tossing one inning.

Royals 6, Indians 3

In Cleveland, Bruce Chen overcame a rocky second inning and Kansas City scored its first five runs with two outs in a win over Cleveland.

Twins 4, Athletics 0

In Minneapolis, Francisco Liriano tossed six shutout innings in his return to the Twins' rotation.

Red Sox 6, Tigers 4

In Boston, David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks each hit two-run homers, Kevin Youkilis had a solo shot and the surging Red Sox beat Detroit for their 14th win in 19 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rockies 13, Astros 5

In Denver, Carlos Gonzalez hit three home runs in his last three at-bats, Michael Cuddyer had a grand slam and Dexter Fowler also homered for the hosts.

Marlins 5, Nationals 3

In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton hit his 12th home run in May to tie the franchise record for a single month and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of first-place Washington.

Phillies 10, Mets 6

In New York, pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz came through with a tying homer in the seventh inning, Jimmy Rollins added a three-run shot and Philadelphia busted loose late to beat the Mets.

Braves 10, Cardinals 7

In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs to lead the Braves past St. Louis.

Cubs 8, Padres 6

In Chicago, Darwin Barney hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cubs a win over San Diego.

Pirates 2, Reds 1

In Pittsburgh, A.J. Burnett allowed just two hits over seven innings, and Matt Hague delivered a two-run double for the Pirates.

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 1

In San Francisco, Paul Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth to help Ian Kennedy snap a five-start losing streak, and Arizona avoided a three-game sweep.

Melky Cabrera singled in the eighth to finish his marvelous May with 51 hits, matching Randy Winn's San Francisco record for most hits in a month set in September 2005.

Brewers 6, Dodgers 3

In Los Angeles, Carlos Gomez tied a career high with four hits, including a go-ahead two-run single against Clayton Kershaw, and Milwaukee handed the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner his third loss in five starts.

The Brewers' Norichika Aoki was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.

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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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Texas trio declare for NBA draft

Austin Texas — Texas players Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton and Cory Joseph are all declaring for the NBA draft.

Team spokesman Scott McConnell said Friday that Hamilton, a sophomore, plans to sign with an agent, which would immediately end his college eligibility.

Thompson and Joseph, both freshman last season, plan to submit their names but will hold off on signing an agent. That will allow them to return to Texas if they choose to.

The NBA deadline for underclassmen to submit their names to the NBA is Sunday. The NCAA allows them to withdraw by May 8 and still maintain their college eligibility.

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