ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Nathan Eovaldi struck out eight in seven shutout innings. Corey Seager homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday.
Eovaldi (1-0) scattered four hits and walked one, throwing 103 pitches. After going 5-0 during the Rangers' postseason run to last year's World Series title, the 34-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs in 13 innings this season for a 1.38 ERA.
"Tough team, tough place to win," Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy said after Texas took two of three from the Rays. "Pitching. I mean, what a great job they did. Seven really solid innings."
Eovaldi had a dominating splitter and recorded a personal-best 23 swings and misses.
"I felt like I had really good feel for right out of the gate," Eovaldi said. "Trying to attack these guys inside. They're really aggressive out there."
Eovaldi is 3-0 with an 0.46 ERA in last his three starts against the Rays, including the postseason.
"He seems to dial it up against us," Rays Manager Kevin Cash said. "He had great stuff today. Just kind of gives us fits."
Seager broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the sixth off Aaron Civale (1-1) and Josh Smith added a two-run single during a three-run ninth against Garrett Cleavinger.
"Aaron was outstanding," Cash said. "He have us every opportunity."
Struggling Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc gave up an RBI single to Harold Ramirez in the ninth. After Jose Caballero hit a flyout to the warning track with two on, Curtis Mead hit a game-ending comebacker.
Leclerc has a 20.25 ERA in three appearances, allowing six earned runs over 2 2/3 innings
Civale allowed 1 run, 4 hits and 2 walks to go with eight strikeouts in six innings.
Tampa Bay's streak of games with a home run and a stolen base at the season's start ended at six. The Rays had joined Cleveland in 1998 as the only teams to accomplish the feat.
Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe left after five innings due to left side tightness and is day to day.
Texas Rangers' Jonah Heim watches his RBI single off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Reangers' Adolis Garcia scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks follows through on a delivery to a Texas Rangers batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Texas Rangers first baseman Jared Walsh flips the ball to pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in time to get Tampa Bay Rays' Harold Ramirez at first base during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes throws out Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien at first base during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Aaron Civale delivers to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Caballero (7) steals second base as the ball skips away from Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, left, during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Backing up the play is shortstop Josh Smith. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Texas Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)