Eovaldi Dazzles To Push Yankees Winning Streak 6. Back to .500

The last time Nathan Eovaldi took the mound, the New York Yankees won the first of their season high five game winning streak versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

On Tuesday night, the streak continued to six and put the Bombers back at .500.

Powered by six plus innings of no run ball from Eovaldi, the Yankees won their sixth consecutive game 6-0 against the reeling Toronto Blue Jays.  The 26 year-old flamethrower lowered his ERA to 3.95, while only allowing 2 H, 3 BB, and struck out five.

Leading off the first inning, Yankee center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury smacked a triple past a diving Jose Bautista in right field.  Ellsbury ended up scoring as Carlos Beltran reached on a fielders choice to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, Eovaldi surrendered a lead-off walk to the number nine hitter Josh Thole, then a single to Jose Bautista.  After an unexpected bunt from last year’s MVP Josh Donaldson, the Jays had runners at second and third with one out.  But, Eovaldi was able to sit Edwin Encarnacion on strikes and got Michael Saunders to fly out to center to get out of the jam.

The power surge from the new (and here to stay?) designated hitter Carlos Beltran continued, as he crushed a R.A. Dickey knuckleball into the second deck of the right field stands to add to the Yankee lead at 2-0.   The former DH Alex Rodriguez began his first rehab assignment with Double A Trenton Thunder going 2-4 with 1 RBI, which was a change of plans as he was supposed to be with the  major league club tonight.

After surrendering a walk to Troy Tulowitzki and at 100 pitches, Nathan Eovaldi’s night was done.  Reliever Dellin Betances came on and struck out Jimmy Paredes, retired Kevin Pillar with a fly out to deep left-center and struck out Justin Smoak leaving Tulowitzki stranded on base.

In the bottom of the seventh, after Dickey had been removed, the Yankees added some more insurance when an Austin Romine grounds rule double and an infield single by Jacoby Ellsbury netted two runs to make it a 4-0 game.  Reliever Joe Biagini allowed the hits, but the runs were charged to Dickey.  The 41 year-old knuckle baller pitched 6.2 innings, allowed 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, and struck out 7.

Beltran added to the lead in the 8th,  when he scored on a Chase Headley sacrifice fly and Didi Gregorious knocked in Aaron Hicks on a single between first and second to make it 6-0.

Reliver Luis Cessa nailed down the game capped off by an amazing defensive barehanded play by shortstop Didi Gregorious.