Following up Jose Fernandez is a tough task, but Marlins starter Nate Eovaldi was up for it Tuesday against the Rockies, as he earned the win in his first start of the season.
Eovaldi wasn't quite as dominant as Fernandez in the season opener, but he more than held his own in a quality start Tuesday. He opened the season with three shutout innings before surrendering both runs in the fourth inning, but the offense bounced back with two more runs in the sixth to earn him a win.
He limited the Rockies to two runs on six hits and a walk, while dialing up his fastball often in picking up six strikeouts. He threw 62 of 95 pitches for strikes before being pulled, in a 4-3 win.
Eovaldi put up a 3.39 ERA in 106 1/3 innings for the Marlins a year ago, and the 24-year-odl is looking to build on that solid work. His next start will likely come Sunday against the Padres, a team he has an 0.79 ERA against in 11 1/3 career innings over two starts.