ARLINGTON -- This time, Yu Darvish left no doubt.

The Rangers' ace began his last start Tuesday at Oakland by facing the minimum through five innings before unravelling in the sixth and being pulled after only 82 pitches.

On Sunday against Kansas City, Darvish faced the minimum over the last five innings he pitched to finish off his best start in almost three years as the Rangers won 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep of the Royals.

Pitching coach Doug Brocail said after Darvish's previous start that he didn't adhere to the game plan of pitching inside. Darvish pounded the inside corner against the Royals with a fastball that topped out at 97 mph, and he hit 96 mph twice in the eighth inning.

"Yu is as competitive as anybody else," manager Jeff Banister said, "and I think he went out there with a mission to throw the ball well."

Darvish allowed two runs in eight innings on 113 pitches. It's the most innings pitched and most pitches thrown for Darvish since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March 2015. It's only the fifth game in his 22 starts since the surgery that Darvish threw 100 pitches or more.

Darvish gave up five hits and allowed one walk while striking out eight. Darvish allowed back-to-back home runs in the third to Mike Moustakas and Jorge Bonifacio, but he quickly recovered.

Over the next five innings, Darvish allowed only a one-out single to Eric Hosmer in the sixth. Hosmer was erased on a double-play grounder.

Darvish had a sharp slider and devastating changeup that left Royals' hitters shaking their heads. He fell behind only five hitters and started the count with a first-pitch strike 18 of 29 times.

"That felt the strongest since I came back from Tommy John surgery," Darvish said. "My velocity was right there in the eighth inning, so that gave me extra confidence."

Darvish's start was just another superb effort by a Rangers starter in the series. No starter pitched less than six innings. That was Andrew Cashner on Thursday, and he didn't even allow a run.

The Rangers' bullpen was even better. In four games, relievers combined to throw 11 innings, allowing only one run on just four hits and one walk with 13 strikeouts. Closer Matt Bush finished off Sunday's win with a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the season and second of his career.

The strong pitching helped compensate for a Rangers offense that has struggled of late. Against Kansas City, the Rangers hit a miserable .214 with 30 strikeouts and left 48 men on base.

The sweep was much needed after Texas finished 3-6 on its recent West Coast road trip that left the club 5-10 and in last place in the AL West.

Third baseman Joey Gallo and catcher Robinson Chirinos homered three times apiece in the series -- each had a solo shot Sunday -- and the Rangers won two of the games in walk-off fashion.

"It was an amazing series," shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "It means a lot. The way we played in this series is the way we want to look like as a team. What makes it exciting is offensively we are not where we want to be. Our pitching was good this series, and our offense will catch up."

Almost no one caught up with Darvish (2-2) on Sunday.

Darvish gave Brocail a hard time after starter Cole Hamels pitched eight innings and threw 107 pitches in a win Friday. Darvish told Brocail that he needed to get some extra pitches Sunday because he was pulled after only 82 pitches in his previous start.

Darvish finished the seventh with 99 pitches. Brocail asked him how he felt. Darvish said he wanted to keep going. He came out for the eighth and threw 14 more pitches to retire the side in order.

"When he came in [after the seventh], I said, 'I need to talk to you,'" Brocail said. "He said, 'I'm good.' And I said, 'Well, it's 99 [pitches].' And he said, 'No, it's not. It's 88.' I said, 'No, it's 99.' And he said, 'I feel like it's 88.' So, I said, 'Have at it.'"

Brocail said Darvish was "phenomenal" Sunday.

"He's probably one of the best right-handers in the game," Brocail said. "This guy has four really good pitches. When he pitches in, out and up and down with it, good luck to you. I'm not saying he's Cy Young, but he could be Cy Young.

"It's Yu Darvish. I tell him that all the time. I don't mean to throw that in his face, but go out and pitch like Yu Darvish. And I think [Sunday] he pitched like Yu Darvish."

Clean sweep

The Rangers' pitching in their four-game sweep of Kansas City carried the team. Here's a look at how each starter fared: