Former Red Sox World Series Hero Delivers Latest Blow To Slumping AL East Rivals

There’s a new look Wednesday to the American League Wild Card standings. Not only are the Boston Red Sox in the driver’s seat thanks to their seven-game winning streak, the slumping New York Yankees now sit in third place, one game behind the Seattle Mariners.

The spiraling Yankees have lost five straight games, with Tuesday’s defeat coming against former Red Sox pitcher (and 2018 World Series hero) Nathan Eovaldi.

The right-hander gave up just one hit in eight innings of work while striking out six in the Texas Rangers’ 2-0 win over the Yankees. Eovaldi improved to 10-3 while dropping his ERA to a miniscule 1.38.

Tuesday’s win came hours after MLB named Eovaldi the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, during which he went 5-0 with a 0.59 ERA.

“I don’t know what else to say about him,” said manager Bruce Bochy, according to MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry. “I mean, what a job. Tremendous effort with his stuff and focus. Eight innings. We needed it. We couldn’t score a run, and for him to do what he did today, just says so much about him.

“He’s fun to watch. You’re seeing pitching at his finest when he’s out there. We needed it. We had our guy out there. What a job he did,” Bochy added.

Landy reported Eovaldi became the fourth pitcher in franchise history to go at least eight innings and allow no more than one baserunner.

“He’s just an artist out there,” Bochy said, per Landry. “His pitchability, his command, his focus, the way he reads swings, he can adjust on the fly, all those things.

“You’ve got four pitches with command of all of them that he can throw anytime. That’s why he’s having so much success,” Bochy noted.

“He’s so fun to watch,” said reliever Phil Maton, according to Landry. “He’s just one of those guys where, all year, regardless of what team you’re on, you just see him having big outing after big outing. He’s just an absolute dog on the mound, and it’s just really fun to watch.”

Eovaldi and the Rangers have moved into fourth place in the Wild Card standings, just a half-game behind the Yankees. Texas can leapfrog New York with a win in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.