Eovaldi pitches Yankees past Giants
NEW YORK -- Nathan Eovaldi pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira hit early home runs and the New York Yankees concluded a 10-game homestand with a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Eovaldi (9-6) threw a season-high 118 pitches and allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, highlighting the outing by getting through a bases-loaded jam in the fourth unscathed.
Beltran and Teixeira hit two-out home runs in the opening two innings off Jeff Samardzija (9-6) before the Yankees added three runs in the fifth. Jacoby Ellsbury had a double-play grounder which scored a run, Starlin Castro added an RBI single and Didi Gregorius contributed a run-scoring double.
Buster Posey had a two-run single for the Giants (58-40), who have lost seven of eight. Samardzija allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Eovaldi exited after allowing a double to Angel Pagan, putting runners at second and third. He was not replaced by Dellin Betances, who was unavailable along with Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.
New York's trio of hard throwers had combined on seven innings and 132 pitches the previous two games.
After Chasen Shreve loaded the bases by walking Brandon Belt, Chad Green pitched 2 1/3 innings and recorded his first career save.
Green gave up Posey's single before getting out of the seventh and started an inning double-play in the eighth. He quickly finished off New York's 6-4 homestand by retiring Belt with Posey on deck representing the tying run.
Beltran drove a 1-0 fastball three rows back into the right-field seats for his 21st home run and a 1-0 lead Teixeira lifted a 1-1 fastball over the right-center field fence into the Yankees bullpen for his ninth home run and 200th with the Yankees.
The Giants saw 33 pitches and loaded the bases on two walks and a single in the fourth but came away empty-handed. Mac Williamson fouled out to first base and Ramiro Pena grounded out to second.
With two outs in the fifth, Pagan tripled down the left-field line. Eovaldi kept the shutout by striking out Belt and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the sixth when Aaron Hicks scored on Ellsbury's double-play grounder.
The lead extended to 4-0 when the Yankees strung together three straight singles and Beltran scored on Castro's hit. Two pitches later the Yankees had a 5-0 lead and knocked out Samardzija when Gregorius hit a double.
NOTES: According to the latest reports, at least five teams were trying to acquire LHP Aroldis Chapman. The Giants are reportedly not in on Chapman, based on word out of San Francisco. During manager Joe Girardi's pregame press conference, he fielded four questions about trade rumors. ... San Francisco C Buster Posey served as the designated hitter and manager Bruce Bochy said he will likely play first base Monday and get Tuesday off. ... Giants RF Hunter Pence (strained right hamstring) went 1-for-4 and play six innings with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. ... Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez did not start for the second straight game and third time in four games. Rodriguez, who is batting .206, reportedly met with owner Hal Steinbrenner on Friday. ... Bochy said INF Matt Duffy (Achilles) is running well and the Giants will make a decision about a rehab assignment on Monday.