CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish's third start of the season brought mixed results Wednesday night, which represented progress after two poor outings.
Darvish logged 5 1/3 innings in a 5-2 loss to the Pirates at Wrigley Field, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits while striking out four and walking none as wind chills dipped to the 30s.
"All and all, I thought he did really well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He had his fastball going tonight. He threw some good cutters. He knew where the ball was going. He had really good stuff I thought."
Darvish went just a combined 6 2/3 innings in his first two starts. He exited after 77 pitches with runners on the corners and one out in the sixth inning. Reliever Kyle Ryan allowed both inherited runners to score.
"I felt I still could go," Darvish said. "But I respect Joe's decision all of the time. So I understand that.
"I was happy with the outing, but still, I gave up five runs and lost the game. But a lot of good takeaway from today's game."
Maddon explained he pulled Darvish because he liked Ryan's ability to induce groundballs and perhaps get out of the inning with a double play. Despite the quick hook, Maddon was pleased with Darvish's performance.
"I thought he looked really good," Maddon said. "It was very, very cold out there, and he handled very well. From the first pitch, he had great poise. I thought his confidence was outstanding. I was really impressed by the circumstances. The second thing is he may have found some things tonight with his delivery. Everything about him tonight was definitely upbeat I thought."
Darvish allowed a solo homer to Francisco Cervelli in the first inning and a two-run homer to Starling Marte in the third to put Pittsburgh up 3-0 on a night the wind was blowing mostly in. That was all the Pirates needed offensively.
"I was so surprised by the home runs -- especially I was surprised by the first one," Darvish said.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
