Carlos Rodon delivered a performance that the Yankees had been eagerly anticipating, marking one of his most impressive outings of the season. His dominance was evident until the very end, as he concluded his appearance with an 88 mph slider that struck out Rays’ Jose Caballero, bringing his strikeout total to a season-high of 10.
This stellar performance allowed Carlos Rodon to break free from a six-start losing streak. He demonstrated remarkable control and effectiveness over seven innings, avoiding the first-inning troubles that had plagued him in recent starts. This outing stood out as his most impressive in over a month, contributing significantly to the Yankees’ 9-1 victory over the Rays and helping the team split the four-game series.
Carlos Rodon’s approach had evolved since his July 15 start against Baltimore, where batters had found success against his fastball. In this game, while he initially relied on his fastball to great effect, he also showcased a diverse pitch selection. His slider proved particularly effective, accounting for seven of his 10 strikeouts.
The left-hander’s dominance was evident as he held the Rays hitless until Jose Siri’s home run with one out in the fifth inning. Carlos Rodon’s final line was impressive: just two hits and two walks allowed over seven innings, a stark contrast to his struggles over the past month that had coincided with the Yankees’ sub-.500 performance since a June series in Boston.
Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged Carlos Rodon’s exceptional performance, stating that it was the best they had seen from him in their matchups. Cash emphasized Carlos Rodon’s talent when he’s at his best and conceded that they encountered that version of him in this game.
“Not much we could do. He threw a heck of a ballgame,” he said. “That’s as good as we’ve seen him throw against us. When he’s right, we know how talented he is. And unfortunately, we saw it today.”
Carlos Rodon’s electric stuff dismantles Rays lineup
Carlos Rodon’s approach against the Rays proved highly effective from the outset. He began by throwing two fastballs to Amed Rosario before striking him out with an 86 mph slider, the first of his 10 strikeouts for the day. In the first inning alone, Carlos Rodon utilized a mix of 11 fastballs, two changeups, one curveball, and one slider, setting the tone for his dominant performance.
Carlos Rodon maintained his no-hit bid until the fifth inning. After the game, he explained that he had featured his fastball more prominently, moving it around the strike zone with increased comfort. The Yankees pitcher emphasized that his strategy involved using the fastball to set up his secondary pitches, particularly his slider, which he used more sparingly but to great effect.
“Yeah, I think we featured a little more fastball. We moved around a little bit more and the more I do it, the more comfortable I get,” Rodon said after the game. “It’s just going out there and doing it. Just moving the fastball around and then throwing some different secondaries, getting ahead in a different way and just finishing with the slider or something different. It worked out.”
The left-hander’s fastball accounted for 54 percent of his pitches, averaging around 95 mph. He deliberately limited his use of the slider to just 20 pitches, explaining that by showing it less early in counts and using it more as a finishing pitch, it became more effective.
This performance marked a significant turnaround for Carlos Rodon, who had struggled with a 9.67 ERA in his previous six starts and hadn’t completed seven innings since June 10 against the Royals.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who had consistently expressed confidence in Carlos Rodon despite his recent struggles, acknowledged the importance of this successful outing. Boone noted that Carlos Rodon’s ability to perform effectively amidst his recent challenges was crucial. He expressed hope that this performance could be a turning point for Rodon, getting him back on track.
Boone also pointed out that elements of Carlos Rodon’s strong performance had been present in his recent outings, albeit surrounded by struggles. He particularly praised Carlos Rodon’s command and strike-throwing in this game, describing it as excellent.
“When you’re going through it, to go do your job really effectively and in this case pitch as well as he did, yeah, that’s a big deal,” Boone said. “And hopefully that’s something that kind of gets him rolling again. Again, like as he’s gone through it here these last several weeks, there has been a lot of what we saw today just in and around some struggles within those outings so I just thought the strike throwing in the command today was excellent.”
This successful start not only provided a much-needed boost for Carlos Rodon but also reinforced the Yankees’ faith in his ability to be a key contributor to their rotation moving forward.
Yankees’ flamethrower finds form in Rays rout
Carlos Rodon delivered an impressive performance, going seven innings while allowing only two hits. The second hit, a broken-bat single, came after Jose Siri’s solo home run in the fifth inning, which had broken up Carlos Rodon’s no-hit bid. Manager Aaron Boone decided to bring in Tommy Kahnle for the eighth inning, with the Yankees holding a 6-1 lead and Carlos Rodon’s pitch count at 101.
Carlos Rodon’s final line included 10 strikeouts and two walks. This outing marked a significant turnaround from his recent struggles, as he had gone 0-5 with a 9.67 ERA in his previous six starts. Prior to that rough patch, Carlos Rodon had started the season strong with a 9-2 record and a 2.93 ERA in his first 14 starts.
The left-hander began the game with a perfect 15-pitch first inning and retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced, with Brandon Lowe’s second-inning walk being the only blemish through four innings.
Juan Soto expressed admiration for Carlos Rodon’s performance, noting the pitcher’s recent struggles and his ability to bounce back. Soto highlighted Carlos Rodon’s command of the strike zone and the quality of his pitches throughout the game.
“He’s been grinding the last couple days and to see him come out today and do what he does best is amazing,” Soto said. “He was pounding the strike zone, throwing great pitches all over the strike zone. I’m more than happy to see that.”
Carlos Rodon had previously voiced concerns that opponents were anticipating his fastball early in counts and finding his fastball-slider combination too predictable. While he did incorporate his curveball (16 times) and changeup (10 times) in this outing, it was his primary pitches that proved most effective against the Rays.
“It [the slider] was good. Used it late in the count, didn’t show it early that much, and I think it was a little bit more effective that way,” Rodon said.
This performance not only helped the Yankees secure a victory but also demonstrated Carlos Rodon’s ability to adjust and return to form after a challenging stretch. It provided a boost of confidence for both the pitcher and the team as they look to maintain momentum in the coming games.
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