Eovaldi goes distance to blank falling Yankees
Nate Eovaldi pitched a three-hitter for his first big league nine-inning shutout, Ezequiel Duran hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and the Texas Rangers beat the visiting Yankees, 2-0, Saturday night for New York’s fifth loss in seven games.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed his second straight game with a mild hip strain, joining Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Harrison Bader on the sidelines. New York was shut out for the first time this season and has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last seven games.
“Classic Nate when he’s really on top of it. He kind of bullied us,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Before 40,027, a record crowd at Globe Life Field, Eovaldi (3-2) struck out a season-high eight and walked none against one of his former teams.
“It means a lot to me,” Eovaldi said of the shutout. “I think it’s just being able to use all of my pitches at all times.”
Boone said Judge’s hip strain will be evaulated through the weekend before determining whether the reigning AL MVP will go on the injured list.
Jake Bauers didn’t make it past the first inning of his Yankees debut, crashing headfirst into the wall in left in a full sprint catching Adolis García’s drive. He left with a bruised right knee.
The 27-year-old fell to the ground and held onto the ball for the final out of the inning. New York said X-rays were negative.
Blue Jays spoil McGee’s no-hit bid
Daulton Varsho singled with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and the host Blue Jays beat the Mariners, 1-0, for their sixth straight win after Seattle pitcher Easton McGee took a no-hitter into the seventh of his first big league start.
Matt Chapman doubled with two outs in the seventh for the only hit against McGee, who was called up from the minors before the game.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman matched the impressive rookie with a career-high 13 strikeouts in seven shutout innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled off Trevor Gott (0-2) to begin the bottom of the 10th, advancing automatic runner Bo Bichette to third.
Seattle intentionally walked Chapman to load the bases for Varsho, who broke an 0-for-18 slump by lining the first pitch into right field.
McGee retired his first 12 batters before walking Chapman to begin the fifth. The 6-foot-6-inch righthander set down the next eight hitters.
He was lifted after Chapman’s double, and Matt Brash struck out Varsho to end the inning.
Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodríguez left in the sixth with a sore lower back.
Maggi gets first hit, Pirates sweep
Drew Maggi got his first two major league hits, three days after making his debut with Pittsburgh following 13 years in the minors, and Pirates routed the host Nationals, 16-1, to complete a doubleheader sweep and reach 20-8 for the time since 1992, when they won their last division title.
The 34-year-old lined an RBI single as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, boosting the Pirates’ lead to 13-0 in the second game. Maggi stayed in at third base and added a double in the ninth.
Miguel Andujar homered in his season debut as the Pirates won the opener, 6-3, then hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 2.
Padres win slugest in Mexico Manny Machado overcame a seventh-inning deficit with his second homer, the 11th of the night, and the Padres outslugged the Giants, 1611, in Major League Baseball’s first regular-season game in Mexico City.
Nelson Cruz, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis, and Xander Bogaerts also went deep for the Padres.
Bogaerts became the first player to homer in regular-season games in four countries, adding to previous drives in the US, Canada, and England.
Tom Cosgrove (1-0), a 26-year-old lefthander, won in his major league debut. He relieved in the seventh with a runner at third and retired Joc Pederson on a groundout.
Rangers deGrom on injured list Rangers ace Jacob deGrom was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation after early exits in two of his last three starts.
While his departures from those games were attributed to right wrist soreness and forearm tightness, general manager Chris Young said an MRI showed some inflammation in his elbow.
Young said the Rangers should have a pretty good idea in 7-10 days on what the next steps would be for the two-time NL Cy Young winner.
Rainout delays Scherzer’s return Saturday’s game between the Braves and Mets was postponed by rain in New York. It will be made up Aug. 12 as part of a doubleheader.
The postponement to August means Mets ace Max Scherzer won’t be eligible to pitch in this series against Atlanta. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is serving a 10-game suspension imposed by Major League Baseball following his ejection for having a foreign substance on his hand while pitching April 19 at Dodger Stadium.
Scherzer’s penalty was due to end Sunday, and he was scheduled to start the series finale Monday. But Monday now would mark his 10th game sitting out, and he won’t be permitted back on the mound until at least Tuesday night in Detroit.