By: Matthew Shinkle, Sports Talk Philly writer 
Final: Rangers 5, Phillies 1 ❖ Attendance: 23,110
ARLINGTON — The Philadelphia Phillies (14-22) dropped the first game of the series to the Texas Rangers (20-20) on Tuesday night, pushing the Rangers win streak to seven games.
Thanks to interleague play, both starting pitchers faced the opposing team for the first time in their careers. Jerad Eickhoff (0-4) went six innings in the game while allowing seven hits, two earned runs and striking out a season high eight batters. Yu Darvish (4-2) pitched seven innings in the win, allowing only four hits and striking out nine in the effort.
The Phillies are now 3-10 in the month of May.
WP: Yu Darvish (4-2, 2.76 ERA) ❖ LP: Jerad Eickhoff (0-4, 4.53 ERA)
Three innings later in the fourth, Robinson Chirinos grounded out to third while also bringing home Rougned Odor, who was on third due to a throwing error by catcher Cameron Rupp when he attempted to throw behind Mike Napoli at first base, but the ball got away from Brock Stassi. An inning later, Jonathan Lucroy doubled to bring in another run, putting the Rangers on top 3-0.
The lone run for the Phillies came in the seventh inning when Freddy Galvis singled home Michael Saunders. That was all the Phillies would muster in the game. The Rangers added two insurance runs in the eighth when Napoli hit a two run home run just over the center field wall to make it 5-1.
Both starters pitched their first career game against the opposing club. Eickhoff remains winless to start off 2017, with his next game likely coming against the Pittsburgh Pirates this Sunday. Meanwhile for the Rangers, Darvish was awarded his first win in the month of May, despite only allowing four earned runs between his last starts while striking out at least five in both games.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, May 17, 2017: at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
- Globe Life Park
- RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (0-3, 2.43 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
