Carlos Rodon steers Yankees back on course on same mound where the slide began
- July 29, 2024
- 6:26 am
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Follow UsYankees’ ace Carlos Rodon delivered a commanding performance from the Fenway Park mound to steer the team back on course during a crucial weekend series. This was the very mound from where the Yankees’ torrid time of six-week slide began on June 15 following the defeat to the Red Sox.
The left-hander was instrumental in securing a vital 8-2 win for the Yankees over the Red Sox on Sunday evening and it ended the stretch, characterized by an unexpected number of losses, put the squad’s resilience to the test, contrasting sharply with their performance in the first 70-plus games of the season.
This victory not only highlighted Carlos Rodon’s importance to the team but also potentially signaled a turning point for the Yankees after their extended period of struggle.
Carlos Rodon, who endured a rough patch with six lackluster outings between mid-June and mid-July, has bounced back with two standout performances. His latest display of skill came against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where he pitched 6 ⅓ innings, allowing only two runs on five hits, leading the Yankees to an 8-2 triumph.
This resurgence comes at a critical juncture, especially with the Yankees’ bullpen heavily burdened in the preceding games. Manager Aaron Boone underscored the significance of Carlos Rodon’s endurance, highlighting his ability to pitch into the seventh inning as a key factor in the team’s success.
“Getting an out into the seventh [inning] there — we needed that,” the manager said. “It was just a big performance following up a strong one obviously his last time.”
Carlos Rodon’s recent struggles saw him give up 29 earned runs over 27 innings from June 15 to July 14, pushing his ERA from 2.93 to 4.63. However, his recent performances signal a return to form. Against the Tampa Bay Rays, he struck out 10 batters over seven innings, followed by a seven-strikeout effort against the Red Sox. Impressively, Carlos Rodon induced 25 swings-and-misses, marking his highest total since joining the Yankees.
This turnaround has been credited to Carlos Rodon’s expanded pitching repertoire, moving beyond his signature fastball-slider combination. This strategic adjustment appears to have revitalized his effectiveness, potentially strengthening the Yankees’ rotation as they approach the critical trade deadline.
A big boost from Carlos Rodon for the Yankees
Carlos Rodon’s improvement not only boosts the Yankees‘ chances but also underscores his value as a key asset in their pursuit of playoff contention.
Carlos Rodon showcased significant improvement on Sunday, particularly with his changeup, in a notable victory against the Boston Red Sox. Rodon’s refined pitch selection played a key role in the Yankees’ triumph.
Carlos Rodon’s changeup was particularly effective, generating substantial swings and misses. Red Sox batters swung at the pitch 13 times, resulting in nine misses and two weakly hit balls. The left-hander credited the changeup with disrupting hitters’ timing.
In a strategic adjustment, Carlos Rodon reduced his fastball usage from his season average of 49.8 percent to 40 percent during this game, making his fastball less predictable and more potent. This approach led to nine whiffs on his fastball alone.
Manager Aaron Boone commended Rodon’s fastball, highlighting its good profile and life, which helped set up his other pitches. This success is timely, given the recent struggles within the Yankees’ rotation.
“He had a good fastball tonight, good profile, good life to it, getting it to areas,” he told after the win. “And then that set up the other stuff that was once again effective for him.”
Carlos Rodon faced his only significant challenges in the fourth inning, surrendering back-to-back home runs to Rob Refsnyder and Connor Wong on pitches that caught too much of the plate. A subsequent triple by Rafael Devers threatened to exacerbate the situation, but he regained control. He struck out Tyler O’Neill with a well-placed changeup, induced a groundout from Romy Gonzalez, and, after a walk, struck out Cedanne Rafaela with a slider to end the inning.
Reflecting on the inning, Carlos Rodon expressed satisfaction with limiting the damage to two runs and his ability to return to an aggressive pitching approach.
“We need to get on a roll here,” the Yankees ace said. “This was a big series win against the Red Sox, who are a very good team despite where they are in the standings. They’re not far off from us. … It’s always tough to play here in Fenway.”
Carlos Rodon’s performance lowered his ERA to 4.34, marking a notable improvement and potentially strengthening the Yankees’ rotation as they approach critical decisions at the trade deadline.
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