NEW YORK _ Rays right-hander Nathan Eovaldi insisted he doesn't pay any attention to trade rumors or the number of scouts in the stands. But, as one of the potentially more intriguing starters on the market, he sure put on a show over seven innings Sunday in a 9-0 win over the Mets.
Eovaldi retired the first 18 Mets in order then allowed the only hit, a Brandon Nimmo single leading off the seventh, during his spectacular outing. He struck out nine, to go with the one hit and no walks, throwing 59 of his 79 pitches for strikes. Andrew Kittredge worked the final two innings.
Eovaldi matched the second longest bid for a perfect game in Rays history. Only Chris Archer, who retired the first 19 in a July 29, 2015, game against Detroit, came closer, by one out.
Eovaldi had been similarly dominant earlier this season, and became the first Rays pitcher to twice throw at least six no-hit innings in the same season.
In his May 30 season debut at Oakland, having recovered from arthroscopic elbow surgery after completing his rehab from August 2016 Tommy John elbow surgery, Eovaldi threw six no-hit innings and walked one but was taken out of the game after 70 pitches.
Two starts ago, on June 26 against the Nationals, Eovaldi retired the first nine and took a no-hitter two outs into the sixth before allowing a double to Bryce Harper. (That was the day after teammate Blake Snell didn't allow a hit until the seventh.)
Among teams with scouts at Sunday's game (not all necessarily to watch Eovaldi were the Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Giants and Yankees. Also, the Reds and Marlins.
The Rays (45-44) gave Eovaldi plenty of support Sunday, starting with a three-run lead before he even took the mound.
With Joey Wendle and Jake Bauers on base with one out, C.J. Cron, who was a late add to the lineup as the result of Kevin Kiemaier's back tightness, crushing a ball into 439 feet to left and into the second deck for his career high 17th homer of the season, and his first since June 19.
They added on from there. They got two in the third on hits by Bauers, Daniel Robertson and Mallex Smith (who would leave later with leg cramps). Another in the fifth on two walks and an infield single by Eovaldi. Then solo homers by Bauers (in the sixth) and Wendle (eighth).
The Rays headed back to Tampa after Sunday's game, waiting for news on who will join manager Kevin Cash, who was appointed a coach, on the American League All-Star team, and to open a quick three-game homestand against Detroit.
