CINCINNATI _ Yu Darvish hit one of the Texas Rangers' three home runs Tuesday night, but they needed the 2,900th hit of Adrian Beltre's career to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5, and salvage a split of the two-game series.
The home run by Darvish with two outs in the fifth inning was the first of his professional career. The 410-foot blast to center field was followed by a solo shot by Ian Desmond, his first homer since July 27.
Nomar Mazara had a three-run homer in the second inning for the game's first runs.
Darvish struggled for the first time since coming off the disabled list last month. He allowed five runs (three earned) in six innings, allowing six hits and a season-high five walks. He hit a batter and struck out five.
Jake Diekman, Matt Bush and Sam Dyson each worked a scoreless inning as the Rangers pushed their lead in the American League West to 6{ games over the Seattle Mariners.
The 2,900th hit of Beltre's career was the game-winner. Desmond was hit by a pitch with one out in the eighth and stole second base before Beltre found the gap in right-center field for an RBI double and a 6-5 lead.
Darvish was plagued by his worst control issues of the season, and the Rangers' defense didn't help him much. A passed ball on Jonathan Lucroy accounted for one unearned run, and a throwing error on Elvis Andrus contributed to another. Rougned Odor was also slow to charge a grounder to second base that turned into an infield hit and fueled the Reds' two-run sixth that tied the game. Diekman worked a scoreless seventh inning, and Bush turned in a perfect eighth for the Rangers. Dyson was perfect in the ninth for his 28th save.
