Carlos Rodon‘s postseason debut with the Yankees started with promise but quickly spiraled into a nightmare during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the ALDS against the Royals in The Bronx. After showing early dominance, the left-hander faltered at a crucial juncture, leaving the Yankees in a precarious position as the series now heads into a pivotal Game 3.
Strong start
Carlos Rodon had been sharp through the first three innings, striking out four batters and allowing only two hits while keeping the Royals off the board. His fastball was lively, and his breaking pitches kept Kansas City hitters guessing. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, seemingly putting Rodon in a strong position to carry them through the middle innings.
However, the fourth inning proved disastrous. It began when Salvador Perez launched a 2-0 slider over the left-field wall to tie the game at 1-1. From there, Rodon’s night quickly unraveled. Yuli Gurriel followed Perez’s homer with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, adding pressure to the already rattled Rodon.
Rodon’s collapse in the fourth
Tommy Pham then delivered a go-ahead single to right-center, giving Kansas City a 2-1 lead. Though Rodon struck out Hunter Renfroe to get within one out of escaping the inning, Garrett Hampson delivered a clutch two-out single off yet another hanging slider, extending the Royals’ lead to 3-1. At that point, Yankees manager Aaron Boone emerged from the dugout, pulling Rodon after his night quickly fell apart.
Ian Hamilton entered in relief but couldn’t fully stop the damage, allowing an RBI single to Garcia that put the Royals up 4-1. Rodon, who had looked untouchable early on, now watched from the dugout as his solid start had turned into a four-run deficit.
The Yankees fell 4-2, unable to mount a comeback and salvage Carlos Rodon’s rough outing. With the series now tied 1-1 and momentum firmly in Kansas City’s favor, New York faces mounting pressure to regroup ahead of a crucial Game 3.
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