Yu Darvish had a season-high 10 strikeouts pitching into the ninth inning and worked out of a couple of jams for the Texas Rangers in a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees and countryman Hiroki Kuroda on Tuesday night.

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In only the seventh MLB matchup ever of Japanese starters, Darvish (3-0) allowed seven hits and walked a season-low two in 8 1-3 innings. The 10 strikeouts were the most by a Texas pitcher this season.

Ian Kinsler put Texas ahead to stay when he led off the first with a deep homer to left center off Kuroda (1-3), who limited Texas to two runs and five hits over 6 2-3 innings. The 37-year-old right-hander, in his fifth season in the majors, struck out five and walked one.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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