Philadelphia Phillies vs Texas Rangers Box Score on May 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 16, 2017

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish struck out nine over seven strong innings, and the Texas Rangers reached .500 for the first time all season with a seventh consecutive victory, 5-1 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

The Rangers improved to 20-20.

Darvish became the sixth Japanese pitcher in major league history to win 50 games. He joined Hideo Nomo (123), Hiroki Kuroda (79), Hisashi Iwakuma (63), Daisuke Matsuzaka (56) and Tomo Ohka (51).

Darvish (4-2) gave up one run on four hits and walked only two. He faced the minimum through the first four innings and retired 14 of the first 16 hitters he faced.

Texas' Mike Napoli went 3-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in the eighth, and Jonathan Lucroy added two hits.

Nomar Mazara, who was 2-for-4, got the Rangers' offense started with a 444-foot home run in the first off Jerad Eickhoff (0-4), a former Rangers minor-leaguer.

Robinson Chirinos had a groundout RBI, and Jonathan Lucroy had a run-scoring double in the fifth for the Rangers, who haven't lost since May 8 at San Diego.

Lefty Alex Claudio worked a scoreless eighth, and right-handed closer Matt Bush a perfect ninth in a non-save situation for Texas.

The Phillies (14-22) lost for a second straight game and are 1-5 over their past six games.

Freddy Galvis accounted for the Phillies' only run with an RBI single off Darvish in the seventh that scored Michael Saunders. That represented the only mark against the tall Texas righty, who registered his seventh quality start in nine outings in 2017.

Eickhoff, who spent parts of five seasons in the Rangers' minor league system before being traded in the deal that sent Cole Hamels to Texas, failed to work into the seventh inning for a sixth straight start.

He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings.

Texas out-hit Philadelphia 8-4.

NOTES: Texas 3B Adrian Beltre, who hasn't played this season because of a strained right calf, did some light jogging and also fielded balls at third and took batting practice on Tuesday. He said he is still likely three weeks away from making his season debut. ... Texas OF Shin-Soo Choo sat out a second consecutive game with a lower back issue, though he was available as a pinch hitter. He is considered day-to-day. ... Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (strained lower back) is slated to rejoin the rotation on Sunday in Pittsburgh after making second rehab start with no issues on Monday. Nola worked 61/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out seven.