Carlos Rodon gave the Yankees everything they could have asked for—and more. The left-hander struck out 10 over six innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits without issuing a walk. He left the game with the Yankees leading 6-4 after 98 pitches, continuing his stellar stretch as one of the league’s most reliable starters.
Carlos Rodon now leads MLB in innings pitched and ranks sixth in strikeout rate. With a 3.29 ERA and elite strikeout numbers, the $26 million man is delivering both volume and dominance that few pitchers can match.
The Yankees’ lead vanished quickly after Rodon exited. The A’s rallied in the eighth with a three-run homer to take a 7-6 lead, then poured it on in the ninth to seal an 11-7 win. What had been shaping up as a Rodon redemption story turned into another frustrating bullpen collapse, one that left Yankees fans shaking their heads.
From domination to disaster
Just 24 hours earlier, Carlos Rodon was the subject of criticism after a rocky start in the series opener, surrendering early home runs and struggling to find his rhythm. That outing led to a harsh column by Adam Weinrib, linking the Yankees’ collapse to a broader sense of despair in New York sports—coming the same weekend the Knicks were blown out by the Celtics.
Carlos Rodon answered that narrative forcefully on Saturday—until the bullpen undid it all.
Friday’s win behind Jasson Dominguez’s three-homer night had given the Yankees a burst of momentum. But like their basketball counterparts at Madison Square Garden, they failed to keep it. Athletics, often dismissed for their small-market struggles, reminded everyone why their offense shouldn’t be overlooked.
For the Yankees, Saturday was a missed opportunity to back up their ace and build on a statement win. Instead, they’ll enter the series finale needing to avoid another deflating loss on the West Coast.
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