ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yu Darvish finally lost a game at home for the Texas Rangers.
Except for a couple of pitches, it was still an All-Star worthy performance. Now fans will determine if the Japanese ace gets to go to Kansas City with seven of his teammates and his manager.
Darvish threw a wild pitch that allowed the tiebreaking run and gave up a long homer as Texas lost 3-1 to the Oakland Athletics despite his 11 strikeouts Sunday night.
"Before tonight, winning those seven games at home, it's not like I pitched great every single time, automatically win games," he said through his translator. "There's some games maybe I should have lost, but the hitters picked me up, the relievers picked me up, kind of help me accomplish that. It's a very unfortunate loss."
The fifth 10-strikeout game for Darvish (10-5) matched NL All-Star pitcher R.A. Dickey for the most in the majors this year. The 11 Ks equaled his season high for Darvish, who had been only the second major leaguer in a half-century to win his first seven career home starts.
Brandon Moss homered for Oakland and Travis Blackley (2-2), the left-hander claimed off waivers in mid-May, picked off two runners while holding a lineup loaded All-Stars to one run over seven innings.
"For him to be pitching as well as he is at the big-league level is really a testament to a guy who has persevered," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "It's good to see a guy who's gone through a lot and worked so hard and now having success."
Ryan Cook, Oakland's only All-Star pick, worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances.
The A's got Blackley after he was designated for assignment by San Francisco. He is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA his last four starts, including his win June 15 against San Diego that was his first in the majors since July 1, 2004.
Though Darvish was left off the initial AL All-Star roster announced earlier Sunday, the right-hander is one of five pitchers who are candidates for the final spot that will be determined by fans voting online through Thursday.
Texas (50-30), still with the best record in the majors, had its five-game winning streak snapped. The Rangers have won seven consecutive series after winning the first three games against Oakland.
After Darvish got his 10th strikeout in the sixth, and before his 11th to end the inning, Yoenis Cespedes doubled down the right-field line before a wild pitch on a strange play that put Oakland up 2-1.
"I made a very good pitch, location was very good, he just hit it, he's a very good hitter," Darvish said. "After that, the wild pitch that scored a run, that's a very important at-bat where I have to give it my all. I didn't make the pitch and the wild pitch was kind of unfortunate."
The speedy Jemile Weeks, who reached on a fielder's choice, stopped at third. But Darvish threw a pitch that bounced under the feet of a hopping batter Seth Smith and the mitt of catcher Yorvit Torrealba then bounced off umpire Manny Gonzalez and in front of the plate.
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