By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Nathan Eovaldi lost his no-hit bid in the seventh inning but pitched into the eighth for the New York Yankees without allowing a run in their series-opening 3-1 win at Texas on Monday night.
The Rangers were without a hit until rookie Nomar Mazara, a day before his 21st birthday, led off the seventh with a clean single through the left side of the infield. After Mazara was wiped out by a double play, Prince Fielder swung at a high pitch for a double to right-center before Ian Desmond grounded out to end the inning.
After Eovaldi (1-2) walked Mitch Moreland to start the eighth, Dellin Betances took over and promptly got Elvis Andrus to ground into a double play before Brett Nicholas hit his first career homer. That was the first earned run off the Yankees reliever in 10 appearances this season.
Andrew Miller worked a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Starlin Castro had solo homers for the Yankees off Cesar Ramos (0-1), the lefty starting in place of Cole Hamels.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
