Rodon’s Strong Performance Leads Yankees to Victory
It was a rocky start for Carlos Rodon, who faced three batters right away. But, he quickly settled in. The Twins managed to score a run in the first inning, but after that, Rodon was unbeatable, retiring 17 straight batters. This stellar performance led to a 9-1 win for the Yankees in Minnesota on Tuesday night.
The All-Star lefty only allowed a single hit, a leadoff shot from Austin Martin, during his seven innings on the mound, improving his record to 12-7 over 25 starts this season.
“We were kind of bracing for a tough game there, but ultimately we got through it,” Rodon remarked post-game. “Once we got that run, for me, it felt like a fresh start, almost like it was a 0-0 game. I just wanted to put up a solid inning in the second.”
The Yankees’ offense supported Rodon well, scoring nine runs, which, he noted, made it easier to attack the opposing hitters confidently.
Rodon received solid backing from teammates like Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, and Giancarlo Stanton. This marked the first time he completed at least six innings in five outings, a notable improvement since July 11, just before the All-Star Game.
He needed 31 pitches to get through the first inning, but after that, he rarely exceeded 13 pitches per inning.
“Honestly, after throwing 31 in the first, I didn’t really expect to go seven,” Rodon added. “Baseball can be quite unpredictable.”
Martin started things off for the Twins with that single, and Rodon faced some pressure when he loaded the bases with walks, but managed to work his way out of it.
The Yankees quickly bounced back, with Judge hitting his first home run in seven games, following his return from injury. They built a 4-1 lead, thanks to Volpe’s three-run shot.
Rodon maintained control from there, allowing no more base runners until the sixth when he walked Jeffers with two outs. There weren’t any more hits until the eighth inning when they were leading 7-1.
“Those first innings can be stressful, and you really feel it as a coach,” Aaron Boone reflected. “But he got a big strikeout when it counted and managed to limit the damage.”
“Sure, that pitch to Clemens could’ve been better, but he really settled down after that,” he continued, indicating a visible improvement in Rodon’s performance as the game went on.
