Chicago Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish pitched five sharp innings in a minor league rehabilitation start Monday night and soon could be back in the majors. Darvish allowed one run and three hits for South Bend in the Class A Midwest League. The Japanese ace struck out five, walked none and threw 57 pitches, 41 for strikes. Darvish has not pitched in the majors since May 20 because of triceps tendinitis in his right arm. Darvish, who signed a $126 million, six-year contract as a free agent in the offseason, has struggled to a 1-3 record with a 4.95 ERA in eight games. He’s twice been on the disabled list. Against the West Michigan Whitecaps, the 6-foot-5 Darvish gave up a home run by Joey Morgan in the third inning and also allowed two doubles. Darvish threw an assortment of pitches, with his fastball reaching 94 mph. He ended the top of the fourth inning with a 62-mph slow curve to strike out Reynaldo Rivera and received high-fives from his teammates when he reached the dugout. After the game reports say Darvish felt soreness in his troubled triceps tendon after the game. West Michigan went on to win the game 4-2.
