The Texas Rangers lost consecutive games for the first time all year on Sunday when they lost the second of two straight games to the Minnesota Twins to split a four-game series on the road.
So while a two-game skid isn't considering a red flag by anyone, it's the first time the Rangers have actually had a true losing "streak" this season. So far, Yu Darvish has held up to his end of the bargain of being the Rangers' ace by taking the ball after a loss and keeping that streak alive earlier this year a few times.
Now, he can actually stop a skid of more than one game when he takes the hill tonight to open a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox in what has began as a historic season for the second-year pitcher.
Darvish leads the world in strikeouts so far with 49. He's had a two-strike count 69 times this year and opposing batters have gotten hits five times in those situations. Darvish is proving to be a true ace, right up there with the likes of Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez. Yeah, he needs to do it for more than a few months, but he's well on his way.
Darvish has turned into must-see TV even for the casual Rangers fan, and even for some folks who have no affiliation with DFW and are just baseball fans. He'll have a chance to stop another skid tonight, and judging by what he's done so far you have to like his chances.