NEW YORK _ Yu Darvish has a new weapon and he's not afraid to use it.
Thanks to teammate Craig Kimbrel, Darvish has started throwing a knuckle-curve with instant success.
That was evident Tuesday during his strikeout of Jeff McNeil, co-batting average leader in the National League, during the eighth inning of the Cubs' 5-2 win over the Mets.
Darvish threw a 68-mph curve that McNeil chased for a second strike. After McNeil fouled off a fastball, Darvish threw an 82-mph knuckle-curve that McNeil chased for the strikeout.
Darvish, who already throws two-seam and four-seam fastballs along with a cut fastball, slider, curveball and split-finger fastball, said he learned to throw the knuckle-curve during a bullpen session before his start against the Giants on Aug. 21.
Darvish said he got two of his seven strikeouts on the knuckle-curve, which is thrown harder than a traditional curve.
"Kimbrel taught me that pitch, and I feel good," he said. "That's why I used it."
Catcher Victor Caratini said the knuckle-curve was the ideal pitch to throw in that situation after McNeil swung and missed on the slower traditional curve.
"He got a couple (batters) to chase, and the curve in the dirt (for the strikeout of McNeil) was the pitch I wanted after the slow curve," Caratini said.
