Yankees Struggle Against Eovaldi in 2-0 Loss
ARLINGTON, Texas – The last thing the Yankees wanted to face was Nathan Eovaldi on the mound.
Unfortunately for them, that’s exactly what happened Tuesday night, and the outcome was predictable. Eovaldi dominated, allowing just one base runner over eight shutout innings, while the Yankees managed only two hits in their 2-0 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
“He really utilizes all his pitches and works the entire zone, throwing strikes consistently,” remarked Aaron Judge, who made his return from the injured list but ended up 0-0 with two strikeouts. “Facing a pitcher like him, it’s tough, and he got us good tonight.”
The lone hit for the Yankees was an impressive double by Anthony Volpe in the third inning, showcasing a bit of fight in what otherwise was a challenging night.
Ryan McMahon got a single with Phil Mutton in the ninth but was quickly erased when Giancarlo Stanton, pinch-hitting, grounded into a double play.
Since July, Eovaldi has been exceptional, giving up only two runs in 30⅔ innings. In fact, he became the third opposing starter to effectively blank the Yankees in four games, joining Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, who only allowed four hits combined over their time on the mound.
“We’ve faced Eovaldi before, and it’s always a tough matchup,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We got some chances, but overall, we didn’t make hard contact.”
The only silver lining for the Yankees? Judge felt “great” after his first game since July 25, when he was diagnosed with a right elbow flexor strain. “The result wasn’t what we wanted, but I’m back, and we’ll turn this around,” he said.
The Yankees’ lackluster offensive performance has tightened their grip on the playoff spot. They’re just ahead in the final AL wildcard race by half a game.
“We’ve got to focus on improving,” Judge added. “But the team is motivated and ready to turn things around. We have a strong squad.”
“At the end of the day, we really need to reflect on what each of us can do to step our game up,” he concluded. “It’s time for change.”
