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Monday 9 July 2018
Eovaldi flirts with perfection as Rays rout Mets 9-0

By JEFFREY METALLO 11 of 15. It was the second a 1.82 ERA in their last 15
Associated Press time this season Eovaldi (3- games.
NEW YORK (AP) — The 3) made it through six in- ROSTER MOVES
weather was nearly per- nings without allowing a hit. Flexen was recalled from
fect and so was Nathan He threw six hitless innings in Triple-A Las Vegas. To open
Eovaldi. The right-hander May against Oakland for a a roster spot, the Mets op-
retired his first 18 batters, 6-0 Rays win in his first major tioned RHP Drew Smith to
C.J. Cron hit an early three- league start since 2016. their top farm team.
run homer and the Tampa “Cutter was really good to- TRAINER’S ROOM
Bay Rays routed the New day. Amazing,” catcher Je- Rays: RHP Chaz Roe was
York Mets 9-0 on Sunday. sus Sucre said. “His fastball placed on the 10-day dis-
“The fastball location was was so sharp today. They abled list with a left me-
really there, and the cut- didn’t have a chance.” niscus tear. He will have a
ter,” Eovaldi said. “Those Three times this year Eo- procedure Friday and is
two pitches I really felt like I valdi has gone six or more expected to miss at least
located probably the best I innings and given up no four to six weeks. RHP Jai-
could have.” more than one hit, tied with me Schultz was recalled
Eovaldi took a perfect Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams from Triple-A. ... Gold Glove
game into the seventh be- for most in the majors. CF Kevin Kiermaier did not
fore Brandon Nimmo lined “Credit to him for pitching start due to back tightness.
a leadoff single to right well, but you never want to ... SS Willy Adames sat out
field. Nimmo was quickly get no-hit. You never want for the second consecu-
erased on a double play, to be a part of that,” Nim- tive day due to illness. ... 2B
and Eovaldi faced the min- mo said. Cron’s home run Daniel Robertson was hit by
imum while needing only gave the Rays a 3-0 lead in a pitch on the inside of his
79 pitches to get through the first. He connected on right elbow in the first but
seven innings. a fastball down the middle stayed in the game. ... OF
“I was trying to back-door from Chris Flexen (0-2) and Mallex Smith left with leg
that cutter and I missed New York Mets’ Chris Flexen, right, looks on as Tampa Bay drove it into the second cramps after running the
down and in, and that’s Rays’ C.J. Cron runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run deck in left field. The homer bases in the fifth.
right in his swing path,” he during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, was Cron’s 17th of the sea- Mets: RHP Noah Synder-
said. in New York. son, setting a career high. gaard threw 71 pitches for
Eovaldi, who returned this Associated Press “As long as it gets over, I’m Class A Brooklyn against
season from his second drew Kittredge pitched the two-hitter. happy,” Cron said. Staten Island, his first rehab
Tommy John surgery, struck the final two innings for the Joey Wendle and Jake Flexen, making his first big start since being placed
out nine and helped him- Rays, giving up a single in Bauers also homered for league start since last Sep- on the disabled list May 26
self with an RBI single. An- the ninth before finishing Tampa Bay, which has won tember, struggled with with a strained ligament in
command early. He lasted his right index finger. Syn-
only three innings on a day dergaard allowed one run
when the Mets needed and two hits in five innings,
length from their starter with seven strikeouts and a
ahead of a doubleheader walk. ... LHP Jason Vargas
Monday. He gave up five will make a rehab start for
earned runs in three innings, Brooklyn on Monday. He
walking three and hitting a has been sidelined since
batter with a pitch. June 22 with a strained right
“Not throwing enough calf. ... SS Amed Rosario
strikes, not throwing enough was given a planned day
quality strikes when I need off. Mets manager Mickey
them,” Flexen said. Callaway said Rosario will
Eovaldi knocked in a run in play both games Monday
the fifth when he beat out against Philadelphia.
an infield single to make UP NEXT
it 6-0. A day after putting Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-4,
the leadoff hitter on in 4.24 ERA) pitches the se-
seven of nine innings, the ries opener Monday night
listless Mets were shut out at home against Detroit.
for the second consecu- It will be Archer’s first start
tive game. They’ve been since June 2 when he was
blanked eight times this placed on the DL for the first
season — seven at home — time in his career with a left
and have gone 14 straight abdominal strain. Tampa
series without winning one. Bay manager Kevin Cash
New York is 3-17 in its last said Archer will be limited
20 home games and has to “loosely” 70 pitches.
dropped 30 of 40 overall. Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler
It was the second time this (2-6, 4.36 ERA) starts the
season Tampa Bay has opener against the Phillies,
thrown consecutive shut- and RHP Corey Oswalt (0-1,
outs. All eight of the team’s 7.94) goes in the nightcap
shutouts have come since as the teams make up an
May 28, and the Rays have April 2 postponement.q