ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi left Thursday afternoon’s game against Washington with right groin tightness after throwing a pitch to Luis Garcia Jr. with one out in the top of the sixth inning.
Eovaldi threw a 94 mph fastball to Garcia for a strike after issuing a one-out walk to Nick Senzel while holding a 3-0 lead. Eovaldi then turned and faced the outfield. He was visited by manager Bruce Bochy and head trainer Matt Lucero and left for the dugout.
Eovaldi limited the Nationals to two hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings while throwing 92 pitches — 13 short of his season high. He struck out eight batters for the fourth time this year, his season high.
Eovaldi went into Thursday’s game 0-2 in his previous four starts and 0-1 in his three previous home starts.
Eovaldi went 12-5 for Texas last season, tying for the team lead in wins as the Rangers went on to win the franchise’s first World Series title.
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