WASHINGTON -- After getting pummeled by Washington in two straight games, the Texas Rangers were eager to stop the Nationals seemingly interminable parade around the bases. Yu Darvish gave the Rangers just what they needed to avert a humbling sweep. Darvish struck out 12 over eight innings, Leonys Martin broke open a scoreless duel with a homer in the seventh and Texas secured a 2-0 victory Sunday. The Rangers won despite losing an apparent run in a rare double challenge on the same play. Managers Ron Washington of Texas and Matt Williams lodged separate complaints after a double steal in the first inning. Pitching for the first time since May 22 after missing his last turn with a stiff neck, Darvish (5-2) gave up five hits and walked two in dropping his ERA to 2.08. The right-hander matched his season high in strikeouts and overpowered a club that won 9-2 on Friday and 10-2 Saturday. "That team for two days just swung the bats at will, threw the ball around the ballpark, out of the ballpark," Washington said. "We certainly needed to try to slow them down, and (Darvish) did that. He slowed them down. Yu was good today. He was very good. When the team needed him to be very good, he was." Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save and seal Texas major league-leading 11th shutout. Darvish struck out the side in the second and fanned two in each of the next three innings before encountering trouble in the sixth. One-out singles by Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche put runners at first and third before Darvish struck out Wilson Ramos and retired Ian Desmond on a deep fly to right field. Darvish yielded a two-out walk in the seventh and left after a 1-2-3 eighth. "We just needed Yu to pitch well," Washington said, "and he pitched well." Darvish was worried that neck stiffness might be a problem, but it obviously didnt turn out to be an issue. "Last night before I went to bed, I was very scared to wake up with a neck injury so I probably woke up 20 times," he said through a translator. "But I didnt have any pain when I woke up this morning." Darvish got the only run he needed when Martin hit an 0-1 pitch from Tanner Roark (3-4) into the Washington bullpen beyond the right-field wall. It was his third home run in 183 at-bats this season and ended the Rangers run of homerless games at six. Roark allowed only one run and seven hits in seven innings but lost his third straight start. "He made one mistake to Martin, a changeup that was up in the strike zone," Williams said. "Other than that, he matched him perfectly." Roark has lost three straight starts but owns a 3.25 ERA and has allowed only eight earned runs over his last 32 2-3 innings. In this one, he kept the Rangers at bay until Martin connected. "It was just a bad changeup. It was up and I didnt throw it with conviction," Roark said. "Thats how its been the past couple games, just one pitch." Donnie Murphy added an RBI single off Drew Storen in the eighth. Murphy had a season-high three hits and was flawless in his first career game at first base. "Hes a pro," Washington said of Murphy. "Every time he goes out there he does something for us." In the first inning, both managers talked to the umpires. With two outs and runners on the corners, Elvis Andrus and Alex Rios executed a double steal. Rios was called out for coming off second base after the steal, but umpires ruled Andrus crossed the plate before the tag. The Texas manager challenged the call at second and Williams insisted the out occurred before Andrus crossed the plate. After replays were reviewed over a span of 2 minutes, 45 seconds, Texas lost its challenge and the Nationals assertion was confirmed. "I might have reacted too soon," Washington acknowledged. "I should have waited until the first inning was over and I would have had my challenge. I was just trying to protect myself." In the bottom half, Ramos looked at a third strike with two outs and runners at first and third. It was the first of five straight strikeouts for Darvish. NOTES: Rangers LF Michael Choice was scratched from the starting lineup with a bruised left shin. ... Both teams are off Monday. Washington hosts Philadelphia on Tuesday night and the Rangers face visiting Baltimore. ... Denard Span got his eighth steal in the third inning, Washingtons 27th this season. Only five Nats have been caught stealing. ... Texas finished its 11-game road trip with a 7-4 record and ended a four-game road losing streak against NL foes. ... Washington fell to 4-26 when scoring fewer than four runs. Adidas NMD R2 ανδρικα . Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, president of the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company), will be leaving her post but will remain as an advisor, a city hall statement said Tuesday. Adidas Superstar γυναικεια . 1 Caroline Wozniacki and three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into the semifinals, while last years runner-up Vera Zvonareva succumbed to Aussie Samantha Stosur in Thursdays womens quarterfinal action at the U. http://www.nmdgreece.com/adidas-falcon-greece.html . For Bergevin, the best pick is the 30th — which traditionally goes to the Stanley Cup winner. "Thats our goal. Adidas Gazelle ανδρικα .C. United on Saturday night and boost the Unions playoff hopes. Nick DeLeon scored in the 36th minute for United (3-23-6), which had ample opportunities to build on its lead but went its 10th straight match without a victory. Adidas NMD R2 Greece . Johnny Manziel, college footballs most entertaining player with the reputation for pulling off magical plays, was selected with the No.NEW YORK -- It was a great night for the greybeards at Citi Field. Bobby Abreu went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and Bartolo Colon pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning as the New York Mets turned to a pair of 40-somethings to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Friday night. "Representing the 40s. When we go to the field, we throw everything that weve got," Abreu said. "Been playing this game for a long time, so pretty much we know what we have to do." Abreu scored twice in the rain-delayed opener of a three-game series between fourth-place teams struggling to score. Colon (6-5) set down 18 straight batters and improved to 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last five starts, sending the Mets to only their second victory in 10 games. "We needed to have him get deep in the game. It was important for us because we were so short in the pen," manager Terry Collins said. Rene Rivera hit a two-run homer but Andrew Cashner (2-6) failed to hold a rare lead for the Padres, who have dropped five straight and nine of 11. The hard-throwing Cashner, who entered with a 2.13 ERA, has lost five straight decisions. He gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings in his second start since spending more than three weeks on the disabled list with a sore right elbow. Fans were advised to take cover on the concourse during the rain delay because of dangerous weather. Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings was shown on the big video screen in centre field for most of a delay at the start that lasted 1 hour, 56 minutes. And even after the ballgame began, some in the sparse crowd announced at 28,085 seemed to be paying much more attention to hockey. With the Rangers trying to stave off elimination again, an audible groan went up in the seventh inning -- just as New York defenceman Ryan McDonagh hit the post with a shot in overtime. After the final out, some fans lingered near TVs inside the ballpark to keep watching. In the end, the Rangers lost in double overtime. The 41-year-old Colon had uncharacteristic trouble with his command at the start. He walked his first batter and gave up Yonder Alonsos leadoff single in the second before Rivera connected for his fourth home run. "I got a little mad. I was meaning to throw that pitch outside and I just went in a little too much so that really got me fired up," Colon said through a translator. "I think it was just a matter of getting through the first two innings. After that I got really comfortable, fouund my zone and kept going from there.dddddddddddd" The home run gave Cashner an uncommon 2-0 lead -- the Padres had scored only once in his previous 33 innings. Colon, however, quickly regrouped and retired his next 18 batters until Alexi Amarista opened the eighth with a double. "Ive known Bart for a long time and at times, youll see him get stronger as the game goes on. I think you saw that tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He held his velocity throughout the game, even into the eighth inning." After throwing a called third strike past pinch-hitter Tommy Medica with his 118th pitch, Colon was lifted. He walked off the mound to a warm hand and softly clapped his hands. Vic Black retired cleanup man Carlos Quentin with the bases loaded to end the inning. Batting fourth in place of Curtis Granderson (calf), the 40-year-old Abreu hit a leadoff double in the second and scored on Taylor Teagardens two-out single. "Anytime they need me there, Im always going to be ready to play the game," Abreu said. He singled in the fourth and Lucas Duda tied it 2-all on a two-out double just beyond the reach of diving centre fielder Will Venable. Matt den Dekker blooped a ground-rule double that put New York ahead. "Couldnt stop the two-out hits," Cashner said. Abreu added RBI singles in the fifth and seventh. Slumping star David Wright had a long sacrifice fly in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game for Abreu, who did not play in the majors last season, since May 30, 2011, with the Angels at Kansas City. "I made two good pitches to him," Cashner said. "Hes a good hitter, a professional hitter. Couldnt get him out." NOTES: Padres RHP Jesse Hahn will be recalled from Double-A San Antonio to make his second major league start Saturday. Hahn was a high school teammate of injured Mets ace Matt Harvey in Groton, Connecticut, about a 2-hour drive from Citi Field, and expects to have family and friends in the stands. ... Granderson was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive night and might sit out again Saturday, Collins said. ... Mets LF Eric Young Jr. (strained right hamstring) had his rehab assignment moved to Double-A Binghamton, and the team hopes hell be ready to return at the end of the weekend. ... Mets closer Jenrry Mejia (stiff back) had an MRI and was given medication. "They said itll probably be a day or so before hes going to be available," Collins said. ' ' '