Yu Darvish pitches two scoreless innings in debut

Reporting from Peoria, Ariz. -- Yu Darvish pitched two scoreless innings on Wednesday in his first game for the Texas Rangers, holding the San Diego Padres to two hits and striking out three.

“I was happy I was able to pitch,” Darvish said.

Darvish was a man of few words during the news conference that followed his 36-pitch appearance.

He fidgeted with his thumbs. He looked around. He spoke softly.

Orlando Hudson was the first player to get a hit off Darvish, a double to right in the first inning.

Hudson said he was surprised by Darvish’s height -- the 25 year old stands 6-foot-5.

“When I got to the plate, I was like, ‘Damn, who the hell is this?’” Hudson said.

Will Venable also doubled an inning later. Venable reached third base but never scored as Darvish reached high to snag a comebacker and threw him out at the plate.

“He showed some vertical range,” Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said.

Darvish pitched exclusively out of the stretch, something he said he does depending on “how I feel.

Darvish is rumored to command at least nine pitches and catcher Yorvit Torrealba said he called for a wide variety of pitches -- fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, changeup and splitter.

Darvish’s fastball touched 95 mph.

Hudson said he was pulling for Darvish.

“I want to see him do good regardless -- Black, White, Chinese, Asian, whatever,” Hudson said.

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