Nathan Eovaldi And Starlin Castro Lead Yankees Over Rays

The New York Yankees came from behind to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Sunday afternoon on another superb outing by Nathan Eovaldi and a two -run home run by Starlin Castro.

The Yankees entered the seventh inning without a hit off of Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. But after a ground out by Jacoby Ellsbury, they went to work. Brett Gardner worked a walk to put the tying run on base. Starlin Castro followed by blasting his home run to center field to put the Yankees on top.

The Rays had jumped to the lead in the third inning. Evan Longoria placed a soft line drive to right field to score Brandon Guyer. But that would represent the total damage that they were able to muster against Eovaldi.

Ronald Torreyes continued to show hustling and spirited effort. Curt Casali smashed a hot grounder down the third base line. But Torreyes dove to grab the grounder even though it seemed to already have zipped by him. He then bounced a throw to Dustin Ackley at first base, who scooped it for the out.

Ackley continued to look good at first base. He handled a hot smash down the base line and scooped the throw by Torreyes with ease. A case can be made for leaving him at first base even after Mark Teixeira returns. After a hot start, Teixeira has been ineffective at the plate.

Eovaldi pitched six innings. He allowed one run on six hits. He also struck out seven with only two walks. His continued rise is allowing him to challenge Masahiro Tanaka as the ace of the staff.

The Yankees followed Eovaldi with the big three. Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman held the Rays in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings respectively. Betances struck out two batters. Miller added three more strike outs. Chapman closed it out with two more strike outs in the ninth.