Texas Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi Pitches Brilliantly Against New York Yankees
ARLINGTON — The New York Yankees activated baseball’s best hitter off of the injured list before their Tuesday game vs. the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
How nice of ‘em.
“You thought it was nice?” Rangers manager Bochy said in jest when presented with the information Tuesday afternoon. “I don’t know.”
The Rangers’ Response
The Rangers returned the favor and countered with something as equally as nasty.
And, boy, was it filthy.
Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi continued his remarkable season and pitched eight brilliant scoreless innings vs. his former club in a 2-0 victory vs. the Yankees Tuesday night.
Eovaldi’s Performance
He earned the win in a sixth consecutive start thanks to a two-run single from first baseman Rowdy Tellez that broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth.
“He’s fun to watch,” Bochy said of Eovaldi. “You’re seeing pitching at it’s finest when he’s out there.”
The 35-year-old allowed the Yankees, who’ve scored more runs than any team in baseball this season, to reach base just once on a third-inning Anthony Volpe double.
He has a 0.47 ERA in his last six starts.
He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July after he posted one of the best individual months by any starter in franchise history.
Eovaldi’s Thoughts
“I felt really good out there tonight,” Eovaldi said. “I think it’s kind of just been building off of the previous outings.
I felt pretty in sync today — the first few innings, I think I got away with a lot of pitches — but I think by the fourth inning I made a mechanical adjustment and I felt really smooth after that.”
Comparison to Greats
Eovaldi has allowed one run or fewer in 13 of his last 14 starts.
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, in 1968, is the only starter to do the same in the modern era.
“It’s pretty wild,” Tellez said of playing defense behind Eovaldi. “I don’t do much.”
Aaron Judge’s Performance
Eovaldi held outfielder Aaron Judge, who returned to the New York lineup after a flexor strain sidelined him for a week-and-a-half, to an 0-for-3 line with a pair of strikeouts.
He got Judge to swing and miss at splitters below the strike zone for each of the strikeouts.
“He’s an extremely talented hitter and he can hit one out of the park at any time,” Eovaldi said.
“With the score being 0-0, I wanted to make sure that at least he felt like I was attacking him.”
Judge, whose 1.151 OPS leads baseball, is the favorite to win the American League MVP award for the third time in four years.
Eovaldi, an All-Star snub whose 1.38 ERA is the best in baseball among pitchers who’ve thrown at least 100 innings this year, is not considered among the top five betting favorites for the AL Cy Young award.
Should he be?
“I think we’re pretty early in the season,” Bochy said. “But, of course, he’s going to be in there when you look at the body of work.”
It’s quite disgusting.
Take a bow, Nathan Eovaldi: See photos from his latest gem in the Texas Rangers’ win over the Yankees
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Click or tap here to sign up for our Rangers newsletter.
Conclusion
Nathan Eovaldi’s performance against the New York Yankees was truly impressive, and he has proven himself to be one of the top pitchers in the league.
With his remarkable season and consistent performance, he is definitely a contender for the AL Cy Young award.
FAQs
Q: Who is Nathan Eovaldi?
A: Nathan Eovaldi is a right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers.
Q: What was the score of the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees?
A: The Texas Rangers won the game 2-0.
Q: Who hit the two-run single that broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth inning?
A: Rowdy Tellez hit the two-run single that broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Q: Is Nathan Eovaldi a contender for the AL Cy Young award?
A: Yes, Nathan Eovaldi is a contender for the AL Cy Young award due to his remarkable season and consistent performance.
