Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish quest for a perfect game on Monday ended on a controversial call from the home-plate umpire. The questionable call came when Yarvish appeared to strike out Jonathan Villar of the Houston Astros, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported.
Darvish retired 17 batters before facing Villar in the sixth inning. The call came after a 2-2 slider appeared to strike out Villar. The home-plate umpire, Ron Kulpa, called it a ball. Darvish's next pitch landed in the dirt and Villar walked to first base, ending the 26-year-old's bid for a perfect game.
Kulpa's call surprised many, including Rangers' catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski exchanged words with Kulpa, who quickly ejected Pierzynski from the game.
"Was it a strike? I don't know," Pierzynski told the Associated Press after the game, via Fox Sports. "Obviously I thought it was and Ron didn't, and I was upset we walked the guy and I said a bad word and I was ejected."
The game wasn't a complete loss for Darvish. The right-hander recorded his 200th strikeout of the season, becoming the first pitcher in the league this season to do so and needing just 23 starts. He finished with a career-high 15 strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
Texas went on to win, 2-1.
"A win's a win," Darvish told the Associated Press through a translator. "I'm just glad I was a big part of this win."
Monday wasn't the first time Darvish has been on the cusp of a perfect game. He was one out away earlier in April against Houston, according to the Associated Press. Marwin Gonzalez ended his bid with a single.