ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski was in Monday's lineup against Pittsburgh, but not behind the plate for Yu Darvish's first start since the two exchanged words on the mound last week in Oakland.
Pierzynski, who was in the lineup as the designated hitter, said that all is well between him and the Rangers' ace after Wednesday's incident during an 11-4 loss to the A's. Darvish allowed five runs in five innings, including two home runs and a career-high six walks.
Geovany Soto was slated to catch Darvish on Monday night against the Pirates.
"Darvish and I are fine," Pierzynski said. "That's it. There's nothing else to it. It was an intense series, an intense moment. Things happen. That's it."
Pierzynski said he and manager Ron Washington have discussed giving the veteran catcher a few days at DH in the final 20 games of the season.
Darvish and Soto have had success as a pairing -- the pitcher has a 3.07 ERA for the right-hander's starts. But Pierzynski has been behind the plate when Darvish came within an out of a perfect game in Houston in the second game of the season, and two more times when Darvish took no-hitters into the seventh and eighth innings against Minnesota and Houston.
Washington said no matter who he has catch Darvish, he's confident. The manager was asked if he thought of giving Darvish and Pierzynski a one-game break from each other.
"No comment," Washington said. "I didn't think of that."