Yu Darvish is the one. The ace in the Friars' clubhouse that the team, and the city itself, can rally around. True, every ace has a game where they're off their mark. Location misses, velocity dips, and pitches that usually move, don't. Unfortunately for Darvish and the Padres, who are looking to upgrade at the trade deadline, that outing took place on Thursday evening in St. Louis, and it was not a pleasurable experience.
There were positives though. In a gallant effort to turn the tides, the offense had their bats swinging in double time after Darvish gave up seven runs in the first two innings.