Nathan Eovaldi shines in his return as the Texas Rangers defeat the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on July 26. See how Eovaldi's dominance and a hot offense led the win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
That's four in a row, folks! The Texas Rangers are red-hot, and Saturday night's 8-3 thrashing of the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field was a statement. But the biggest story wasn't just the win; it was the triumphant return of Nathan Eovaldi. Shaking off recent back tightness, Eovaldi took the mound and looked every bit the ace this team needs, silencing a potent Braves lineup and setting the stage for a complete team victory.
Corey Seager is the only MLB player with a 24+ game on-base streak in each of the last three seasons.
After missing a start with back tightness, all eyes were on Nathan Eovaldi. He didn't disappoint. Over five masterful innings, Eovaldi allowed zero runs on just three hits while striking out seven. While his season-high four walks showed a little rust, he battled through every at-bat, throwing 86 pitches to earn his eighth win. It was a gutsy performance that proved why the team showed its faith in him, and he showed them why it was warranted.
The offense gave Eovaldi all the support he needed and then some. The tone was set in the first inning when Sam Haggerty singled, promptly stole his 10th base of the season, and scored on a Marcus Semien sac fly. Catcher Jonah Heim broke it open in the second with a two-run blast, his ninth homer of the year. The hits kept coming, with Wyatt Langford and Haggerty both adding RBI doubles before the Rangers exploded for a four-run eighth inning to put the game on ice.
While one impressive streak ended, another continued its historic run. Corey Seager, despite going 0-for-3, worked two walks to extend his on-base streak to a remarkable 25 games. His plate discipline is simply elite. On the other side of the ball, the team's incredible pitching streak of allowing two or fewer runs came to an end after tying a club record at seven games. Reliever Caleb Boushley surrendered two runs in the ninth, but by then, the game was well out of reach. It's hard to be upset when a streak ends because the offense has given you a massive cushion.
With four straight wins under their belt, the Rangers are brimming with confidence. They'll hand the ball to rookie Kumar Rocker on Sunday, looking to complete the sweep against Atlanta. Can the young right-hander build on the momentum from Eovaldi's stellar return? If this week is any indication, this team has found its mid-summer groove, and it's must-see baseball.
