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Darvish gets extra rest before making next start

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers, because of Monday's doubleheader and Tuesday's off-day, had the option of bringing back Yu Darvish either Saturday or Sunday. They chose to bring him back on Sunday and give him an extra day of rest. He will be pitching on five days' rest instead of the normal four.

"We just wanted to give Darvish an extra day," manager Ron Washington said. "Anytime we can give him an extra day, we're going to do it."

The Rangers are also off on Monday. That means Darvish will get another start on five days' rest before pitching against the Blue Jays on June 8 in Toronto. Darvish is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 13 career starts when pitching on five days' rest over his two seasons in the Majors.

Darvish started Game 2 of the doubleheader on Monday and was not involved in the decision as the Rangers lost, 5-4, in the bottom of the ninth inning. Darvish went 7 2/3 innings and had a 4-2 lead before giving up a game-tying two-run home run to Didi Gregorius with two outs in the eighth.

Darvish struck out 14 and did not walk a batter. Since 2006, Darvish is the 10th pitcher to strike out 14 in a game and not walk a batter, but it's only the second time it was done in a losing effort.

Darvish is also the 10th American League pitcher since 1916 to have at least three 14-strikeout games in one season. The last to do it was Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000. Nolan Ryan had six such seasons, Randy Johnson did it four times, Roger Clemens three times and Sam McDowell twice. Herb Score, Mickey Lolich, Frank Tanana and Mark Langston did it once.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. Master Tesfatsion is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
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