ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — On a night when Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and Chris Capuano made progress toward returning from the disabled list, Nathan Eovaldi appeared to be on the way to making the Yankees’ brass look good for acquiring the pellet-throwing right-hander.
When general manager Brian Cashman shipped Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Marlins for Eovaldi and pitching prospect Domingo German, the critics pointed to Eovaldi’s losing record and a bad habit of giving up far too many hits and not striking out enough hitters.
For six innings Tuesday night against the Rays at Tropicana Field, Eovaldi cruised through the hosts’ lineup but gave up two cheap runs in the seventh when first baseman Garrett Jones, subbing for Mark Teixeira, didn’t turn balls into double plays and catcher Brian McCann couldn’t handle a pitch inside to David DeJesus that helped a two-run rally.