The top two teams in the AL East debuted their recently-acquired starting pitchers on Sunday afternoon, and both came away successful to end their weekend series. First, the Boston Red Sox debuted Nathan Eovaldi and shut out the Minnesota Twins, 4-0. Eovaldi was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays and lasted seven shutout innings for his fourth win of the year. The right-hander struck out five without walking a batter, helping the Red Sox take three of four over the weekend.
J.D, Martinez drove in all three runs for his team with a two-run double and an RBI single, while also adding a walk to his day. Andrew Benintendi had two hits and a walk, as the Red Sox earned their 18th win in the past 22 games, improving their major league-best record to 74-33.
The 28-year-old Eovaldi held the Twins to four hits, just two starts after getting rocked by the same team as a member of the Rays. Minnesota tagged the former Ray for eight runs on nine hits in just 2.2 innings in Minneapolis. Eovaldi has spent most of his career in the AL East, including two seasons with the New York Yankees before joining the Rays. He did miss the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. He will face his former team in the Yankees next weekend.
Meanwhile, J.A. Happ, who also switched between AL East teams, made his New York Yankees debut in a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Happ lasted six innings and allowed just one run on three hits and threw 96 pitches in his 11th win of the season. Happ was acquired by the Yankees earlier this week in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 35-year-old ended a personal four-start winless streak with the victory in familiar territory of Yankee Stadium. The right-hander made his ninth career start in the Bronx, and does have a relief appearance as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2009 World Series.
He helped the Yankees win consecutive games for the first time since July 11th and 12th, as they took the series from the Royals. This comes after their ace, Luis Severino, was tagged for six runs in a loss in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.
Aaron Hicks went deep and reached base four times to support his new pitcher, as the Yankees remain 5.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the top spot in the AL East. They will do battle with the Red Sox at Fenway Park next weekend, but first, they have to play host to the Baltimore Orioles for a short two-game series beginning on Tuesday.
J.D, Martinez drove in all three runs for his team with a two-run double and an RBI single, while also adding a walk to his day. Andrew Benintendi had two hits and a walk, as the Red Sox earned their 18th win in the past 22 games, improving their major league-best record to 74-33.
The 28-year-old Eovaldi held the Twins to four hits, just two starts after getting rocked by the same team as a member of the Rays. Minnesota tagged the former Ray for eight runs on nine hits in just 2.2 innings in Minneapolis. Eovaldi has spent most of his career in the AL East, including two seasons with the New York Yankees before joining the Rays. He did miss the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. He will face his former team in the Yankees next weekend.
Meanwhile, J.A. Happ, who also switched between AL East teams, made his New York Yankees debut in a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Happ lasted six innings and allowed just one run on three hits and threw 96 pitches in his 11th win of the season. Happ was acquired by the Yankees earlier this week in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 35-year-old ended a personal four-start winless streak with the victory in familiar territory of Yankee Stadium. The right-hander made his ninth career start in the Bronx, and does have a relief appearance as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2009 World Series.
He helped the Yankees win consecutive games for the first time since July 11th and 12th, as they took the series from the Royals. This comes after their ace, Luis Severino, was tagged for six runs in a loss in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.
Aaron Hicks went deep and reached base four times to support his new pitcher, as the Yankees remain 5.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the top spot in the AL East. They will do battle with the Red Sox at Fenway Park next weekend, but first, they have to play host to the Baltimore Orioles for a short two-game series beginning on Tuesday.
