Not the debut Cubs had hoped for from Yu Darvish

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MIAMI — Yu Darvish's final line in his Cubs debut probably won't make it into his career scrapbook.

The high-profile pitcher had an outing to forget Saturday as he failed to make it out of the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins.

This isn't what the Cubs had in mind last month when they signed Darvish: Notching just 13 outs against a torn-down Marlins roster. However, Darvish at least kept his team in the game, leaving with the score tied.

Prior to the game, manager Joe Maddon said he was planning on letting Darvish loose for at least 100 pitches in an effort to save a stressed bullpen.

"He's a Cub now," Maddon said. "I always anticipate good when he pitches."

That's not quite what played out in the Cubs' third game of the season, with Maddon having to come out to the mound to chat with Darvish three separate times in the fifth inning, eventually pulling the $126-million pitcher with only one out.

Darvish's final line: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

He also hit two batters and served up one homer. He dialed it up to 96 mph on the gun and seemed to have his typical stuff, but his command was off.

"He was too anxious to have a great debut," catcher Willson Contreras said. "He missed a lot of spots with the fastball and even the slider. He didn't have it today. He didn't get them to chase a lot and that's something that we need."

Just 10 pitches into his Cubs debut, Darvish was already watching Derek Dietrich round the bases after giving the Marlins a 2-0 lead on a slider that wound up in the upper deck in right field.

Darvish settled down from there, setting down eight in a row and tossing three straight scoreless frames. 

The wheels came off in the fifth when Miguel Rojas led off with a single off Darvish's foot. Maddon and Cubs trainer P.J. Mainville came out to chat with the 31-year-old pitcher, but walked back in the dugout after less than 30 seconds.

A couple batters later, Darvish again had a visit from Maddon and Mainville due to a sensation he worried could turn into cramping in his pitching arm, but it never developed into a cramp, so Darvish stayed in the game.

Here's how the rest of the inning played out:

—Darvish walked the next batter on four pitches. 

—Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey went out for a mound visit with Darvish and the infielders.

—The very next batter (Tomas Telis) singled to load the bases with nobody out.

—Lewis Brinson followed with a soft single to center to score one run.

—Dietrich lined out to third.

—Starlin Castro continued to batter his former team, singling into left field to plate two runs to tie the game.

—Darvish was pulled for Brian Duensing, who got two quick outs after coming into the game.

"He wasn't really sharp overall," Maddon said.

Given Saturday already had extra weight attached to it with his team debut, the lack of bullpen support was just another factor placing pressure on Darvish, who wasn't expecting to be pushed to the limit right out of the gate with the Cubs.

"I mean overall, I don't think it was too bad, but they made me throw more pitches than I expected, so the rhythm got inconsistent there," he said.

Darvish will enter his second start in a Cubs uniform (set for Friday in Milwaukee) with a 10.38 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.

"He's going to have a great year," Contreras said. "The first one wasn't as good as he is."

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