Nathan Eovaldi’s Red Sox debut went about as well as anyone could’ve hoped for. It definitely exceeded my expectations, which I like to keep pretty low; it helps avoid disappointment. And while it was only his first start, Eovaldi certainly impressed the hard-to-please Red Sox Nation.
In Sunday’s series finale against Minnesota, the newest arm in the rotation hurled seven scoreless frames. No runs, no walks, five strikeouts, and just four hits allowed? I’m thrilled.
Eovaldi’s outing was the eighth time in the last 11 games that a Sox starter has not allowed an earned run. He is now a contributor to a starting rotation that has a collective 1.44 ERA over their last 11 games. According to Elias Sports, that’s Boston’s lowest starting pitcher ERA for an 11-game stretch since September 1978.
How did Jalen Beeks, the pitcher we traded away, fare for Tampa, you ask? Definitely not nearly as well, though that I did expect, considering how he pitched when he was still in Boston. The poor rookie walked three, and gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. He didn’t make it past the fourth inning; I’m surprised they even gave him that long.
With this trade, the disparities between the teams of the AL East become even more pronounced. It’s the haves and have-nots on the east coast, and will probably stay that way for at least another season.
Welcome to Boston, Eo!
Photo: NESN
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