Tag Archives: Nathan Eovaldi

Nov 01

World Series Game Five, 2023

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Texas at Arizona, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox. Texas leads the Series three games to one.

The Rangers send RHP Nathan Iovaldi (4-0, 3.52 ERA postseason) out to try to win the Series. RHP Zac Gallen of the Diamondbacks (2-2, 5.27 ERA postseason) will try to extend it.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1942 The Dodgers replace team president Larry MacPhail, who accepted a commission in the U.S. Army in September, with Branch Rickey, formerly the Cardinals’ vice-president before resigning three days ago. Brooklyn’s new boss will guide the team to two pennants during his eight-year reign in the “The Borough of Churches.”
  • 1966 In the final time when there is only one selection from both leagues, Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax becomes the first three-time recipient of the Cy Young Award. The 30-year-old left-hander, recipient of the prestigious pitching prize in 1963 and 1965, posted a 27-9 (.750) record and an ERA of 1.73 for the National League champs.
  • 2001 The first major league game ever started in November becomes memorable when the Yankees, for the second consecutive night, make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and go on to a World Series Game Five victory in extra innings. Scott Brosius hits a game-tying two-out two-run homer to knot the game at 2-2, and Alfonso Soriano singles in Chuck Knoblauch in the 12th, giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory and 3-2 lead in the Fall Classic over the Diamondbacks.
  • 2005 The unveiling of a bronze sculpture capturing the friendship of Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson takes place at Brooklyn’s KeySpan Park, home of the Mets’ Single-A team. The William Behrends sculpture captures the moment when the Dodger captain showed support by putting his arm around his black teammate’s shoulder, hushing an unruly crowd hurling racial slurs at his teammate at Crosley Field in 1947.
  • 2010 Edgar Renteria, who drove in the Marlins’ winning run against Cleveland during Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic, joins Yankees legends Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra as only the fourth player in baseball history to collect two World Series-winning hits. The Series MVP’s three-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning leads to San Francisco’s 3-1 victory over the Rangers, bringing a World Championship to the Giants for the first time since 1954.
Oct 27

World Series Game One, 2023

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Arizona at Texas, 5:04 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The D-Backs give the ball to RHP Zac Gallen (2-2, 5.24 ERA postseason) and the Rangers give theirs to RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-0, 2.42 ERA postseason). Here’s a preview. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown.

How about that? Each team’s GM played baseball for Princeton, noted hotbed of the summer game. There have been 97 pro baseball players from the New Jersey school; 43 of them, including the D-Backs’ Mike Hazen and the Rangers’ Chris Young, played for the current coach, Scott Bradley.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1985 The Royals become the sixth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the Fall Classic when series MVP Bret Saberhagen, who became a new dad yesterday, blanks the Cardinals on five hits, 11-0. Kansas City is the first home team in World Series history to lose the series’ first two games and win the World Championship.
  • 1986 With another dramatic comeback, the Mets defeat the Red Sox, 8-5, winning Game 7 of the Fall Classic to become World Champions for the second time in the franchise’s 25-year history. Third baseman Ray Knight, the Fall Classic’s MVP, makes amends for an earlier error by hitting a home run, which puts the Mets ahead in the seventh inning.

  • 1989 After a ten-day delay due to the Loma Prieta earthquake, the World Series resumes with the A’s beating the Giants in Game 3, 13-7. Oakland joins the 1928 Yankees as only the second team in major league history to hit five home runs in a Fall Classic contest.
  • 1991 In Game 7 of the ‘Worst to First’ World Series, the Twins beat the Braves, 1-0, when Dan Gladden scores the winning run in the bottom of the tenth on Gene Larkin’s single, clinching its second world championship since relocating from Washington D.C. in 1961. Atlanta and Minnesota had both finished in last place in their respective divisions the previous season.

  • 1991 At the Metrodome, Jack Morris goes the distance in Game 7 of the World Series, blanking the Braves, 1-0, in the Twins’ ten-inning, dramatic walk-off win. The 36-year-old right-hander, who posts a 2-0 record along with a 1.17 ERA during his three starts, is named the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic.
  • 2002 In the team’s 42nd season, the Angels finally win a World Series title by beating the Giants, 4-1, in Game 7 at Edison Field. Garret Anderson’s three-run double provides enough offense for John Lackey to become the first rookie to win the seventh game since 1909, when Babe Adams accomplished the feat for the Pirates.
  • 2004 Under the moon’s reddish tint caused by a lunar eclipse, the Red Sox exorcised 86 years of agonizing losses by winning their first World Series since 1918. In one of the most dominating Fall Classic performances, Boston, who never trailed during the four games, blanks the Cardinals, 3-0, to complete the sweep.
  • 2015 Michael Conforto becomes the third player to accomplish the World Series Triple Crown, playing in the Little League World Series (2004 Redmond LL, WA), the College World Series (2013 Oregon State), and the MLB World Series (2015 Mets). The two other major leaguers who have participated in the rare event are Jason Varitek (1984 Altamonte Springs LL, FL, 1994 Georgia Tech, and the 2004 Red Sox) and Ed Vosberg (1973 Tucson LL, AZ, the 1980 University of Arizona, and the 1997 Marlins).
  • 2020 The Dodgers, the National League representative three out of the last four World Series, end their 32-year drought without a world championship, beating the Rays, 3-1, in Game 6 at Globe Life Field. After winning seven straight divisional titles, the team wins its first Fall Classic since 1988, a year best remembered for the heroics of Kirk Gibson.
Oct 22

ALCS Game Six, 2023

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Texas at Houston, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1. The Astros lead the series 3-2.

The Rangers send out RHP Nathan Eovaldi (3-0, 2.29 ERA postseason) to face the Astros’ LHP Framber Valdez (0-2, 11.57 ERA postseason).

Here’s a preview of the potential series-ender.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1845 The first known box score appears in the New York Morning News. Alexander Cartwright’s notation detailing the game comes a month after some of his fellow Knickerbockers wrote the first set of rules.

  • 1910 After three straight defeats and trailing Philadelphia by a run in the ninth, the Cubs tie the score, winning 4-3 in ten innings for their only World Series victory. The A’s will easily take the Fall Classic in five games.
  • 1960
    “But immortality is nontransferable. The papers said that the other players, and even the umpires on the field, begged him to come out and acknowledge us in some way, but he never had and did not now. Gods do not answer letters.” – JOHN UPDIKE

    The New Yorker magazine publishes Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, an article by 28-year-old John Updike chronicling Ted Williams’ last game in the major leagues. The future Pulitzer Prize-winning author, among the 10,000 fans at the fabled game, ends the much-celebrated baseball essay with, “Gods do not answer letters,” as an explanation of the superstar not acknowledging the Fenway faithful after homering in his final major league at-bat.

  • 1975 In a fitting finish to one of the most classic World Series ever played, the Reds beat the Red Sox in a thrilling Game 7 victory, 4-3. Future Hall of Fame infielder Joe Morgan’s ninth-inning bloop single into center field, scoring Ken Griffey, proves to be the decisive hit in the Fenway Park contest.
  • 2011 In the Cardinals’ 16-7 rout of the Rangers in Game 3 of the Fall Classic, Albert Pujols hits three homers, drives in six runs, and collects five hits, equaling three World Series records. ‘Prince Albert’, who also set a Series mark with 14 total bases, connects on fastballs from three different Texas pitchers, joining Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in a World Series game.

  • 2016 The Cubs win their first pennant since 1945, blanking the Dodgers 5-0 at Wrigley Field in Game 6 of the NLCS. Kyle Hendrick, who goes 7⅓ innings, and Aroldis Chapman combine to face the minimum 27 batters, allowing only two hits and one walk, making it the first time this has occurred in the postseason play since Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
Oct 16

ALCS Game Two & NLCS Game One, 2023

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Texas at Houston, 1:37 PM PDT, TV: Fox

RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-0, 1.32 ERA postseason) pitches for the Rangers and LHP Framber Valdez (0-1, 10.38 ERA postseason) takes the ball for the Astros. The Rangers lead the series 1-0.

Arizona at Philadelphia, 5:07 PM PDT, TBS

The first game of the series is a matchup of Zac(k)s, as RHP Zac Gallen (2-0, 3.19 ERA postseason) goes for the D-Backs and RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 2.08 ERA postseason) pitches for the Phillies.

Before we get to the events of this date earlier in baseball history, here’s a bit of current news which is historical in itself: the Giants have formally interviewed Alyssa Nakken for their vacant managerial job. She’s believed to be the first woman ever to be considered for an MLB manager’s position. She’s been a full-time coach for the Giants since January of 2020, and she coached first base in April of 2022. She was an outstanding softball player at Sacramento State, a three-time All-Conference first baseman and a four-time academic All-American.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1912 Fred Snodgrass’ 10th inning two-base error of pinch-hitter Clyde Engle’s routine pop fly in center field sets up the tying run en route to the 3-2 Red Sox victory over the Giants and a World Championship for Boston. The play, which becomes infamously known as “Snodgrass’ Muff,” is followed by his spectacular catch of a long drive hit by Tris Speaker, but the 20-year-old outfielder historically becomes known as the goat in the Fall Classic.
  • 1969 The Mets, thanks to Ron Swoboda’s double and two Oriole errors in the eighth inning, win their fourth straight World Series game to become World Champions. Jerry Koosman tosses a five-hitter, beating Baltimore 5-3 in Game 5, in a contest best remembered for manager Gil Hodges winning the ‘shoe polish’ argument.

  • 1983 The Orioles win their fourth straight contest against the Phillies and take the World Series in five games. Scott McGregor pitches a five-hit complete game in the 5-0 victory at Veterans Stadium, and Eddie Murray hits two home runs.
  • 1999 In a game slated to be a battle between the respective aces of each team, the Red Sox crush the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, 13-1. The dream pitching duel between Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens at Fenway Park doesn’t materialize when the ‘Rocket’ fails to get out of the third inning, giving up five earned runs on six hits.
  • 2020 The sixth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS was the best of times and the worst of times for Will Smith, the Dodgers catcher, who smacks a three-run homer off Will Smith, the Braves reliever. The Globe Life Field matchup marks the first time in postseason history that features a hitter facing a pitcher with the same first and last name.
Oct 10

ALDS Games Three, 2023

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Houston at Minnesota, 1:07 PM PDT, TV: Fox

RHP Cristian Javier takes the Target Field mound for the Astros and RHP Sonny Gray does so for the Twins. The Series is tied at one game apiece.

Baltimore at Texas, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox

RHP Dean Kremer goes to the hill at Globe Life Field for the Orioles and old friend RHP Nathan Eovaldi does the same for the Rangers. The Rangers lead the Series two games to none.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1924 With the score tied at 3-3 and one out in the bottom of the 12th in Game 7 of the World Series, Senators’ backstop Muddy Ruel lifts a high catchable foul pop-up, which Giant catcher Hank Gowdy misses when he stumbles over his mask. Given a second chance, Ruel then doubles and eventually scores the winning run, making the Senators World Champs.
  • 1951 In Game 6 of the Fall Classic, the Yankees become World Champions for the 14th time in franchise history when they beat the Giants in the Bronx ballpark contest, 4-3. Hank Bauer delivers the signature blow, a three-run triple hit in the sixth inning off Game 1 winner Dave Koslo.
  • 1956 In Game 7 of the World Series, Johnny Kucks, allowing just three singles, blanks Brooklyn, 9-0, to give the Yankees their 17th World Championship in franchise history. In the last postseason game played at Ebbets Field, the 24-year-old right-hander ends the game by striking out Jackie Robinson, which turns out to be the Dodger infielder’s final major league at-bat when he decides to retire after being traded to the Giants in the off-season.
  • 1957 Starting Game 7 on just two days rest, Lew Burdette pitches the Braves to a World Championship as he blanks the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium, 5-0. The 30-year-old right-hander, named the Series MVP, tosses 24 consecutive scoreless innings and posts a 0.64 ERA in his three Fall classic victories.
  • 1968 Bob Gibson, who sets the mark for total strikeouts (35) in a World Series, goes the distance in his eighth consecutive World Series game, losing Game 7 to Detroit, 4-1. The only time the St. Louis Cardinal right-hander, who will compile a 1.89 postseason ERA, didn’t finish a Fall Classic contest was in his first appearance in 1964 when he tossed eight innings against the Yankees.
  • 2019 After compiling a .497 winning percentage in his two seasons at the helm, the Phillies fire their manager Gabe Kapler. The dismissal marks the eighth managerial vacancy of 2019; skippers are needed by the Mets, Pirates, Angels, Royals, Cubs, Padres, and the Giants, who will hire the former Philadelphia pilot next month as their 37th manager to replace the retiring Bruce Bochy.
Oct 04

Wild Card Games Two, 2023

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FYI: All series are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games are available live internationally (except in Canada). Full game archives are available approximately 90 minutes after the game ends.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 12:08 PM PDT, TV: ABC

RHP Nathan Eovaldi goes for the Rangers against RHP Zach Eflin of the Rays.

Rangers – Rays preview

Toronto at Minnesota, 1:38 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

The Jays’ RHP José Berríos faces off against the Twins’ RHP Sonny Gray.

Blue Jays – Twins preview

Arizona at Milwaukee, 4:08 PM PDT, TV: ESPN2

The D-Backs hand the ball to RHP Zac Gallen and the Brewers give theirs to RHP Freddy Peralta.

Diamondbacks – Brewers preview

Miami at Philadelphia, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

LHP Braxton Garrett takes the ball for the Marlins and RHP Aaron Nola does so for the Phillies.

Marlins – Phillies preview

Today in baseball history:

  • 1916 Reds right-hander Christy Mathewson faces Mordecai Brown of the Cubs in the career finale for each pitcher, marking the first time two future Hall of Famers have made their final appearance in the same game. Both Cooperstown-bound hurlers go the distance in Cincinnati’s 10-8 victory at Chicago’s Weeghman Park.
  • 1951 In Game 1 of the World Series, the first all-black outfield in major league history makes its appearance when Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Hank Thompson take the field for the Giants at Yankee Stadium. In a curious move, Leo Durocher replaces the previously injured right fielder Don Mueller with Hank Thompson, a third baseman by trade, using veteran outfielder Bobby Thomson at the hot corner.
  • 1955 After more than half a century of futility, the Dodgers finally win a World Championship, thanks to Johnny Podres’ 2-0 shutout of the Yankees in the Bronx. The turning point of the historic contest proves to be an outstanding catch by defensive replacement Sandy Amoros in the sixth inning that robs Yogi Berra of an extra-base hit with two on, resulting in a rally-robbing double play.

  • 2006 At Shea Stadium, Russell Martin’s double kills a promising two-on and none-out rally as both Dodgers runners become outs at home in the Mets’ eventual 6-5 victory in Game 1 of the NLDS. Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew both try to score, but the relay from right fielder Shawn Green to second baseman Jose Valentin to Paul Lo Duca allows the catcher to tag each runner during their headfirst slides into the plate.

  • 2008 The Dodgers complete a three-game NLDS sweep of Chicago with a 3-1 victory, winning their first postseason series since 1998. The stunning loss in the playoffs extends the World Series drought for the Cubs into another century.
  • 2015 Clayton Kershaw strikes out Melvin Upton to end the third inning of LA’s 6-3 victory over the Padres at Chavez Ravine, becoming the 34th pitcher to record 300 strikeouts in a season, joining Sandy Koufax, who accomplished the feat three times in the 1960’s, as the only the second Dodger to reach the mark. The 27-year-old southpaw is the first pitcher in 13 years to achieve the milestone since Diamondback teammates Curt Schilling (316) and Randy Johnson (334) surpassed the plateau in 2002.
  • 2015 MLB schedules all games to start simultaneously at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to add more drama to the regular season’s final day. The scheduling, similar to the English Premier League’s “Survival Sunday,” also evens the playing field by limiting teams’ ability to rest potential playoff starters based on the results of contests played earlier in the day.
Oct 22

ALCS Game Six, 2021

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Red Sox at Astros, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The visiting Red Sox need to win today to stay alive. They’ll give the ball to RHP Nathan Eovaldi (postseason 2-1, 5.51 ERA) and ask him to keep the Astros down. The Astros ask RHP Luis Garcia (postseason 0-1, 24.55 ERA) to end the Series right now.

Today in baseball history John Updike published his ode to Ted Williams as “The Kid” played his final game at Fenway Park in 1960, in 1975 the Reds beat the Red Sox in a World Series filled with reversals, home runs, and foul balls waved fair, Albert Pujols homered three times in Game Three of the 2011 World Series, and in 2016 the Cubs beat the Dodgers in Game Six of the NLCS to win their first pennant in 71 years.

Lineups:

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Two, 2021

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Red Sox at Astros, 1:20 PM PDT, TV: Fox

U-less RHP Nathan Eovaldi (13-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the hill for the BoSox; he’ll face the Astros’ RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.48 ERA). Eovaldi went five innings in Boston’s ALDS Game Three against the Rays, giving up two runs on three hits. Garcia started Game Three in Houston’s ALDS Game Three against the White Sox and was horrible; he gave up five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

On this date in baseball history Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey’s line drive to end the 1962 World Series, the Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series behind a Jerry Koosman five-hitter in Game Five, Jack Clark broke Tom Niedenfuer’s and Dodgers’ fans hearts in the 1985 NLCS, Aaron Boone did the same to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox in the 11th inning of Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, and Will Smith the Dodgers’ catcher homered off Will Smith the Braves’ reliever in 2020.

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 10

ALDS Games Three, 2021

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Game One: Rays at Red Sox, 1:07 PM PDT, TV: MLBN

RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 4.24 ERA) pitches for the Rays and RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA) does so for the Sox.

Game Two: Astros at White Sox, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Astros send RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA) to the hill to face RHP Dylan Cease (13-7, 3.91 ERA) of the White Sox.

On this date in baseball history Bill Wambsganss pulled off an unassisted triple play in the World Series (against Brooklyn, of course) in 1920. Lew Burdette is named MVP of the 1957 World Series for winning three complete games in the Braves’ defeat of the Yankees. Mickey Lolich of the Tigers outdueled Bob Gibson of the Cardinals to win the Series for his team in 1968. There’s a lot more to be seen at the link.

Lineups when available.

Rays:

Red Sox:

Astros:

White Sox:

Oct 05

AL Wild Card Game, 2021

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Yankees at Red Sox, 5:10 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

RHP Gerrit Cole (16-8, 3.23 ERA) goes for the Yankees and RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the ball for the Red Sox.

October 5 has been an eventful day in baseball history. Among other things, Mickey Owens let Tommy Heinrich’s ball get past him in 1941, Al Gionfriddo caught Joe DiMaggio’s fly ball in 1947, Don Newcombe made the first World Series start by a black pitcher memorable but lost 1-0 on a walk-off HR by Tommy Heinrich (him again!) in 1949, Mickey Mantle tore up his right knee in 1951 when DiMaggio called him off a fly ball, and Glenn Burke high-fived Dusty Baker in 1977, the first time that gesture was seen in MLB.

Yankees’ lineup:

Red Sox lineup: