Darvish chased in 2nd in shortest career start

Ahead of Game 3 of the World Series, Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch suggested his team might have an edge against Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yu Darvish, telling reporters that "having familiarity" with the Japanese right-hander - a longtime Texas Rangers star before getting traded to Los Angeles in July - "will help a little bit."

He was right.

Darvish, who crafted a 1.59 ERA through his first two starts this postseason, imploded Friday in his World Series debut, coughing up four runs in a ghastly second inning at Minute Maid Park and recording just five total outs before being lifted from what was the shortest start of his MLB career. Since debuting with the Rangers in 2012, Darvish, a four-time All-Star, had never lasted fewer than three innings in any start.

With his abbreviated outing, Darvish made some dubious Dodgers history, too. He is now just the ninth starter in franchise history not to make it out of the second in a World Series start, joining John Tudor (1988), Bob Welch (1981), Doug Rau (1977), Don Newcombe (1956), Karl Spooner (1955), Carl Erskine (1953), Harry Taylor (1947), and Leon Cadore (1920).