He wasn't happy at first, but Nathan Eovaldi understands why the Tampa Bay Rays pulled him from a potential no-hitter on Wednesday night.

Coming off a second Tommy John surgery, Kevin Cash pulled him after six innings in his return against the Oakland Athletics.

"I didn't want to shake his hand," Eovaldi said. "I haven't gone seven innings in a really long time. So we played it safe and it was good. I would have liked to stay out there until I gave up a hit, but I understand the situation as well."

He threw 70 pitches and registered four strikeouts.

Cash said he debated sending Eovaldi out for the seventh.

"It was tough, there was no doubt, but we have to do what's right by him," Cash said. "He wanted to stay, but realistically, he's not getting to the ninth inning. I'll just blame [pitching coach Kyle Snyder]. I wanted to keep pitching him, but Kyle told me to pull him."