Once, a call like this might have thrown Carlos Rodon off his game.
During the fourth inning on Thursday, the left-handed pitcher was leading by two runs when he threw a 1-2 slider to Joe Adele that dropped below the strike zone.
Adele mentioned that home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz checked in with first base umpire Bill Miller—not something you’d expect from anyone but the officials in blue.
After a couple of pitches, Adele earned a walk.
But instead of succumbing to pressure, Rodon maintained his composure and struck out the next two batters, helping secure a 7-3 victory.
Interestingly, despite the Yankees’ offense finally stepping up, Rodon didn’t have his best outing.
Even without overwhelming fastballs and a bit of adversity, he kept the game in check, showing noticeable progress since his early days with the Yankees.
“I thought he handled it well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I didn’t let it get to him; he just managed to take care of the next two guys and steady things down. That was crucial.”
Rodon simplified the situation.
“It’s just one of those things beyond my control,” he said. “They tend not to call a lot of check swings. I wish I could just keep going.”
He allowed just four hits over six innings, three of which were home runs—something he hadn’t done since last June.
His previously strong season had taken a hit with a couple of costly mistakes leading to three-run homers, but he effectively limited damage on Thursday, only letting three other base runners reach base besides the solo shot.
“You just keep going,” Rodon remarked. “Three solo shots—I definitely would have liked to have those pitches back. It’s a work in progress, but I got the win.”
“The secondary pitches were decent. I think if I had better fastball control, it could have improved the game. It wasn’t spectacular, but it got the job done.”
He’s managed to give up three runs or fewer in 11 out of his 16 starts this season.
Rodon’s performance has helped the Yankees significantly, contributing to their winning streak—43 victories in their last 51 games and a solid record over their last ten outings.
“I think Rodon managed the game well on days when he might not be at his best,” Boone noted.
When asked about the check swing call on Adele, Boone paused with a smirk before replying.
“They aren’t perfect,” he stated.
