Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was in mid-season form in his first start of the 2013 season. Darvish came within an out of throwing a perfect game against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

After retiring the first 26 batters he faced, Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez broke up the perfect game bid with a ground ball that went through Darvish’s legs for a single up the middle.

Rangers manager Ron Washington then removed Darvish and put in Michael Kirkman to get the final out. The Rangers won 7-0. Darvish fanned 14 batters.

Darvish very nearly picked up right where pitchers left off in 2012. Last season, there were a record three perfect games thrown – Phillip Humber of the Chicago White Sox (who is now an Astro), Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants and Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners. (Yeah, I know there should have been three perfect games in 2010 but life isn’t fair).

I have a feeling that Darvish may one day have another chance to attain perfection.