ARLINGTON, TX — Nathan Eovaldi seems to find a special groove when he takes the mound at Globe Life Field, and his latest outing was no exception. Pitching in the Texas Rangers’ 6-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Friday, Eovaldi delivered a stellar performance that underscored his affinity for the Arlington ballpark.
During his six-inning stint, Eovaldi allowed just two earned runs off four hits, including one solo homer, contributing to the Rangers’ victory. Alongside six strikeouts and a single walk, he then passed the torch to a capable bullpen, which saw him notch another win, improving his impressive record at Globe Life Field to 11-3 as a Ranger.
Nathaniel Lowe, the Rangers’ first baseman, was quick to praise his teammate’s consistency and comfort at their home venue. “That’s just Nate,” Lowe remarked. “He loves it here.”
Eovaldi himself acknowledged the support and energy from the home crowd as a significant factor. “I do like pitching in front of the home crowd and everything. I’ve enjoyed that,” he shared following the Friday victory.
This season, Eovaldi has proven particularly formidable at home, maintaining two or fewer earned runs across his first eight home starts. This achievement ties him with Kyle Gibson’s 2021 record for the club, setting the stage for Eovaldi to potentially surpass it with his next performance.
Currently holding a 4-3 season record, Eovaldi boasts a 3-0 record and a 2.22 ERA in those eight home games, with just 11 earned runs across 44 2/3 innings.
However, the contrast between his home and away performances remains a puzzle for Eovaldi. Away from Globe Life Field, his record dips to 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA, conceding 12 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings.
“I take a lot of pride in throwing well on the road and trying to keep the crowd of the game. I don’t know what the difference is,” Eovaldi admitted, considering his evenly matched home and road ERA from the previous year.
Aware of the need to improve his game on the road, Eovaldi remains optimistic about the Rangers’ prospects. With plenty of season left to play, he believes in the team’s potential to climb the American League West standings.
“I definitely see a lot of time left,” he affirmed. “It feels like we’re heading in that right direction.”
As Eovald prepares for his next start away from Globe Life Field, both he and the Rangers aim to translate his home success onto the road, keeping their playoff aspirations alive.
