Carlos Rodón walked into Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants with something to prove. After complaining about his recent walks and their damage, he was determined to turn it around. But history had other plans. Another walk proved to be the culprit, and a three-run homer by Jung Hoo Lee was the dagger that gave the Yankees a 5-4 loss at Yankee Stadium.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
Rodón had been dealing through five innings, looking like the ace the Yankees thought they were getting when they signed him to a $162 million deal. But then, history repeated itself. After allowing three hits and eight strikeouts, Rodón imploded in the sixth inning, walking a batter and then giving up a three-run homer to Jung Hoo Lee. The bomb not only erased a 3-1 Yankees lead but also ended the game. The loss was the Yankees’ (8-7) third in a row and Rodón and the team are searching for answers.
“It’s just frustrating,” Rodón said after the game. “Falling behind guys. We had the momentum and I have to be better.”
The Sixth-Inning Collapse
Rodón started strong. Through five innings he had allowed only two base runners – one being Lee’s solo homer in the fourth – and seemed to have his stuff. But it all fell apart in the sixth.
No. 9 hitter Christian Koss led off with a slow roller to shortstop that Anthony Volpe couldn’t quite snag. Rodón bounced back by striking out Heliot Ramos but trouble struck again when he walked Willy Adames on five pitches. That set up Lee, who jumped on a hanging curveball and crushed it for a three-run homer.
“Just a terrible execution on a curveball that he punished,” Rodón said.
Manager Aaron Boone agreed. “Not much you can do on the infield single, but then the walk ahead of the homer,” Boone said. “It’s that small separator between him being in a dominant position right now to — the reality is we’ve got to look at it as he’s throwing the ball incredibly well.”
A Familiar Pattern
This wasn’t the first time Rodón’s walks came back to bite him. In his previous start against Detroit, he walked the 8 and 9 hitters and a three run homer followed. Against Arizona, a leadoff walk turned into a two run homer two batters later.
Through four starts this season, Rodón has walked 12 batters, 6 of whom have scored. For a team that can’t find consistency in the rotation, these are costly.
Late Rally Falls Short
The Yankees had chances to get back in the game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was 0 for 24 and snapped out of it with a solo homer in the 8th to make it 5-4. Unfortunately that was as close as they would get.
Earlier in the game the Yankees gave Rodón some early breathing room. Aaron Judge doubled and scored on Paul Goldschmidt’s RBI single in the 1st. Jasson Domínguez and J.C. Escarra followed with back to back doubles in the 2nd and Ben Rice added an RBI single to make it 3-0.
But despite knocking out Giants ace Logan Webb after 5 innings, the Yankees couldn’t cash in.
Insurance Run Proves Deciding Factor
The Giants added an insurance run in the 7th when Casey Schmitt doubled and scored on a chopper that got past Paul Goldschmidt. That run proved to be the difference in the game.
What’s Next for Rodón and the Yankees?
Rodón was visibly frustrated after the game. “Up 3-1 in the 6th, I wanted to shut the door. I just missed the curveball and I got punished. Not good enough.”
The rotation is already inconsistent, so Rodón’s struggles are a concern. But there were positives to take away – his swing and miss stuff was good and he was in the zone on the mound. Now he just needs to tighten up his command and not make those big mistakes.
As the Yankees regroup, they need more from their starters to keep up in the AL East.