Inside The Rangers

Watch: Jose Altuve Knocks Out Texas Rangers Returning Ace Nathan Eovaldi, Homers Three Times for Astros

Texas Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi started for the first time since July and couldn't get out of the second inning, while Jose Altuve put on a clinic.
Art Garcia|
Watch: Jose Altuve Knocks Out Texas Rangers Returning Ace Nathan Eovaldi, Homers Three Times for Astros
Watch: Jose Altuve Knocks Out Texas Rangers Returning Ace Nathan Eovaldi, Homers Three Times for Astros

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Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas – Welcome back, Nathan Eovaldi.

Not really.

All it took was leadoff batter Jose Altuve to remind the Texas Rangers ace what it’s like pitching in the Majors. And it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Altuve worked a 3-1 count before depositing the fifth pitch from Eovaldi into the seats in left-center field. The 406-foot solo home run came off a 94-mph four-seam fastball.

Altuve was just getting started Tuesday night.

The star second baseman knocked out Eovaldi out of the game in the second inning with a 398-foot blast for a 4-0 lead. Altuve also went deep against reliever Dane Dunning in the third for a home run in each of the first three innings.

That made five homers in the last six at-bats for Altuve, who has 15 long balls this season. It was the first career three-homer game of  Altuve’s career in the regular season (he had one in the 2017 ALDS) and second ever at Globe Life Field. Adolis García also did it earlier this season.

Altuve is just the fourth player in Houston history to have multiple-homers in consecutive games. He homered twice in Monday’s 13-6 rout over Texas in the series opener.

Dunning replaced Eovaldi, who gave up four runs on five hits and one walk in 1 1/3 innings. He threw 35 pitches and was visibly upset after the second home run.

Dunning also felt the wrath of Altuve to the tune of 426 feet to center. Houston led 9-0 going into the bottom of the third. The Astros won 14-1.

Eovaldi was activated earlier in the day after spending more than a month on the injured list with a forearm strain. It was the 20th start for the All-Star right-hander, who had been the club’s top pitcher this season, especially after the season-ending injury to Jacob deGrom.

Eovaldi spent the last few weeks ramping for his return with several bullpens and throwing sessions meant to simulate game situations. The Rangers brought Eovaldi back without a rehab assignment and in the place of Dunning in the rotation.

The Astros hit Eovaldi hard in the first inning, with the three batters getting on base. Houston racked up four hits and took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. Dunning was warming up before the inning was done.

Eovaldi had made just one start since the All-Star break, throwing six shutout innings on July 18 in a win over Tampa Bay at Globe Life Field. Eovaldi came into Tuesday with an 11-3 record and 2.69 ERA.

Texas came into the game trailing the Astros and Seattle Mariners by one game in the American League West. Houston (79-61) is now alone in first place. Seattle (77-61) is one game back and the Rangers (76-62) are two behind.

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

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Art Garcia
ART GARCIA

Art Garcia (@ArtGarcia92) has watched, wondered and written about those fortunate few to play games since the 1990s. Award-winning stops at NBA.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News dot a career that includes extensive writing for such outlets as ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, CBSSports.com, The Sporting News, among others. He is a former professor of sports reporting at UT Arlington and continues to work in the communications field. Garcia began covering the Dallas Mavericks right around Mark Cuban purchasing the club in 2000. The Texas A&M grad has also covered the Cowboys, Rangers, TCU, Big 12, Final Fours, countless bowl games, including the National Championship, and just about everything involving a ball in Texas.

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