Everyday Eovaldi becomes the performance of the series for ages
Everyday Eovaldi becomes the performance of the series for ages
Nathan Eovaldi seemed to have a rubber arm. Maybe that second Tommy John surgery turned him into a bionic thrower.
Until the 97th release of an exit that was among the most unusual in the history of the World Series, until the 561th release of an epic endurance test that lasted through the night for 18 innings, they finally beat it.
Eovaldi allowed the opposite field homer of Max Muncy to the left in the center with a cutter that hung on the high outside corner, finishing the longest game of the World Series after 7 hours, 20 minutes. The Dodgers' 3-2 victory over Boston on Friday reduced the Los Angeles World Series deficit to 2-1.
"After the game ended I started crying," Red Sox starter Rick Porcello said. "He literally gave everything he had in each release."
Prior to this week, Eovaldi had never pitched on consecutive days in his Major League career.
Now, manager Alex Cora sent the 28-year-old right-hander to the mound for the third time in four days. In the World Series. Throwing 98 mph in his seventh inning relay.
Fastballs and cutters. Occasional slippers and splits. Entrance after the entrance.
"I felt good all the time, I told AC: 'I'm fine, I want to stay,'" Eovaldi said in front of the first base dugout when it was over.
He gave a performance for all ages, especially at a time when managers have turned both the starters and the relievers into the wonders of a single hitter. It was a throwback to the days when Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale took the mound at Dodger Stadium and hoped to finish what they started.
After throwing the eighth inning to preserve opportunities in the first two games of the Series, Eovaldi was the owner of Game 4 scheduled. Instead, he became the ninth pitcher to tie Boston's record when he entered to start the 12th inning.
He was about to win when second baseman Ian Kinsler made a throwing error that allowed the Dodgers to play the game again in 13th.
"I feel really bad for Nate," Kinsler said. "I feel like I left the team down there."
Eovaldi was sympathetic.
"He apologized to me and I told him I had nothing to apologize for," said Eovaldi.
Muncy walked leading the 13th and came home by mistake of Kinsler, and then almost won the game at 15 with a pass on the wall by the line of right field that caught the foul.
Eovaldi stayed behind 3-0 against Muncy at the start of the 18th, and then received a strike followed by a couple of fouls. Muncy drove the next pitch 382 feet toward the ladder in front of the pavilion's seats.
"That was the last entry there," said Cora. "When he entered, I asked him: 'How do you feel?' He's like, 'Let me finish it.' And I'm like, 'OK' I do not know if I said, 'You have one more.' "
Eovaldi threw four more pitches than any Boston staff member in a postseason outing. Cora planned for Drew Pomeranz to hit Eovaldi on the 19th and take the mound in the bottom half.
"I felt privileged to be able to see what Nathan Eovaldi did," said Porcello. "That was the most incredible launch presentation I've seen."
Eovaldi pitched more than a third of Boston's 283 pitches, allowing two runs - one earned - and three hits in six innings. Not bad, especially considering his past.
He had his first elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2007 when he was a junior at Alvin High School in Texas. He took his second place in August 2016 after injuring himself while shooting for the New York Yankees.
New York left him free, and Tampa Bay gave him a home for his rehabilitation.
"I trust doctors and surgeons to do their job, and then trust the coaches," Eovaldi said. "I never thought I would not be here."
He was about to return for the start of this season when the Rays announced near the end of spring training that he had loose bodies in his elbow and needed surgery. That delayed his return to May 30.
After going 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 10 starts, he was traded to Boston on July 25 for prospect Jalen Beeks. Eovaldi reduced his effectiveness to 3.33 in 10 starts and a relief appearance for the Red Sox, his average speed of fast ball from 97 to 98 mph.
He defeated the Yankees in his postseason debut, Game 3 of the Division Series, and then defeated Houston in the third game of the American League Championship Series.
Will Eovaldi volunteer every day to launch on Saturday?
"Absolutely," said Eovaldi.
He just seemed to be half joking.
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More MLB AP: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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