Game 40 : Nathan Eovaldi put the team in 2-run hole before fans were settled in their seats, but the Yanks battled back to knock Washington starter Gio Gonzalez out of the box en route to a 6-2 lead by the 5th inning. That was the good times.
From there, Nationals’ pitching kept the Yanks in check, and their offense delivered when needed to tie the score at 6 in the bottom of the 6th. It would stay there until the bottom of the 10th when Ryan Zimmerman skied a 96mph two-seam fastball from Andrew Miller for 2-run walk off homer that clanked off the foul pole in right. It was the first run(s) allowed by Miller this season. The Yankees once 3-game lead in the AL East has evaporated, as the team finds itself in a flat-footer tie for first with the Tampa Rays.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Nationals 8, Yankees 6
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- Mark Teixeira Tex banged his 12th home run of the season and upped his RBI total to 30 with a 2-run rocket halfway up the right field seats, not a cheap one by any means.
- Chase Headley The third-baseman scorched a two-out, two-on, two-strike double down the left field line in the 4th inning to tie the score at 2. A promising sign for the offense after stinking it up lately on the road.
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- Jacoby Ellsbury The centerfielder was removed from the game in the 4th inning with what was initially described as a ‘right leg injury‘.
- Nathan Eovaldi After a shaky opening frame, Eovaldi seemed to settle down but lost the plot again in the bottom of the 5th inning. A walk, strikeout, double, and three straight singles earned the hook from Joe Girardi, as the Nationals brought it to a 6-5 score. Justin Wilson saved Eovaldi’s bacon at least in ERA, as the lefty reliever induced an inning-ending double play from Bryce Harper. Eovaldi allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits, including 2 home runs and 2 walks, while striking out 5 over 4.1 innings.
“In the fifth inning, I just fell apart. Walking the leadoff batter after we put up four runs in the fourth, and two more in the fifth, it’s just frustrating. I’ve got to be able to bear down, make better pitches than that and get back to the dugout.” ‐ Nathan Eovaldi (h/t: mlb.com)
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FOOTNOTES : Chase Whitley underwent Tommy John surgery this morning, and all reports indicate everything went well …
