Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish, enjoying a stellar rookie season in Major League Baseball after arriving from Japan, was a winner in bouncing back from his first US loss.

In a 10-3 Texas victory over the Los Angeles Angels, Darvish struck out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings yet surrendered two home runs and three total runs on three hits and three walks but departed the mound with Texas ahead 9-3.

Darvish improved to 5-1 on the season for the reigning American League champions. Of the 93 pitches thrown by Darvish, 57 were for strikes.

Angels southpaw starter C.J. Wilson, who departed Texas after helping the Rangers reach the World Series the past two seasons, lasted only one-third of an inning.

The Rangers tagged Wilson for four of the six runs they scored in the first inning.

Right-hander Darvish, a two-time Japan league Most Valuable Player for the Nippon Ham Fighters before leaving to join the Rangers this year, suffered his first US loss last weekend to Cleveland after winning his first four decisions.

The Rangers, who began the day 21-11 with the best record in the major leagues, spent $107.7 million to obtain Darvish.

The Japanese ace signed a six-year deal with Texas for $56 million and the rest of the money went to the Hokkaido-based Fighters just for their right to negotiate with Darvish.

Wilson, by contrast, departed for the Angels for a five-year deal worth $77.5 million last December before Darvish arrived.

Darvish was the American League Rookie of the Month in April after posting a perfect 4-0 record with a 2.18 earned-run average.