Ex-Yankee Jameson Taillon dominates Yankees, spoils Carlos Rodon’s debut

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New York Yankees 0, Chicago Cubs 3

NEW YORK — Jameson Taillon had a great comeback at Yankee Stadium. He only gave up one hit over eight innings, which was better than Carlos Rodón’s much-anticipated Yankees start. The Chicago Cubs beat the New York team by a score of 3-0 on Friday night. It was their first win in the famous Bronx arena, which was made possible by this amazing performance.

With utmost efficiency, Taillon (3-6) stifled the Yankees’ offense, permitting solely Gleyber Torres‘ single to center field in the opening inning and a mere duo of walks. Displaying remarkable prowess, he recorded four strikeouts, surpassed his season’s innings record, and admirably prevented any baserunner from advancing beyond first base. This notable performance secured his first victory since June 13 in a truly commendable fashion.

At the age of 31, Jameson Taillon, a skilled right-handed pitcher, dedicated two seasons to the Yankees before embarking on a new chapter with the Chicago Cubs. In December, he inked an impressive four-year contract worth $68 million, solidifying his commitment to his new team.

Adding to the Cubs’ triumph, Cody Bellinger launched his ninth home run, further contributing to their success. This monumental achievement broke the Cubs’ longstanding winless streak of 0-12 at both the old and new Yankee Stadium. Prior to this victory, Chicago had endured eight regular-season losses in the Bronx, as well as being swept by the Yankees in the 1932 and 1938 World Series, each with two defeats.

Suffering their third consecutive defeat, New York’s record stands at 13-16 since Aaron Judge sustained a ligament tear in his right big toe on June 3. The frustrated crowd vented their displeasure through relentless boos, expressing their disappointment with the team’s performance. During this stretch, the Yankees have struggled offensively, managing to score two runs or fewer in a staggering 12 out of those games.

Securing his sixth save out of seven opportunities, Adbert Alzolay showcased his pitching brilliance by surrendering only a single to Franchy Cordero in the ninth inning, completing a remarkable two-hit performance. The Chicago team, despite enduring a slump of eight losses in their last 11 games, managed to reach the pinnacle alongside Toronto, sharing the major league lead with 10 shutout victories. On this particular occasion, the Yankees found themselves held scoreless for only the fourth time this season.

Coming off two successive All-Star seasons, Carlos Rodón (0-1), a talented 30-year-old left-handed pitcher, initially launched his career with the White Sox. After a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants in 2022, he made headlines by securing a lucrative $162 million, six-year deal with the Yankees last winter. Unfortunately, his journey with the Yankees encountered obstacles as he suffered a strained left forearm during spring training. Further hindering his progress, a troublesome back during rehabilitation slowed his recovery, ultimately sidelining him for the first half of the season.

Sporting high socks, Rodón relied heavily on his fastball repertoire, delivering 53 of them, complemented by 12 well-executed sliders. In addition, he strategically incorporated two curveballs and a duo of changeups into his pitch selection. Maintaining an impressive average velocity of 95.5 mph with his fastball, Rodón faced 30 swings but only managed to induce five swings and misses. Throughout his 5 1/3 innings on the mound, he conceded two runs and four hits while issuing two walks and recording two strikeouts.

With incredible precision, Bellinger unleashed his power on a fastball, propelling it high above the right-field wall in the third inning, thus securing Chicago’s initial hit of the game. As the ball sailed through the air, Bellinger took a few measured steps, his gaze transfixed upon its descent into the second deck of the stadium. This monumental shot not only solidified his remarkable contribution but also bolstered his exceptional record of 20 hits in his most recent 40 at-bats.

In the fifth inning, Chicago added another run to their tally as Rodón issued walks to both Trey Mancini and Miguel Amaya. Seizing the opportunity, Nico Hoerner stepped up and delivered a clutch two-out RBI single, skillfully finding a gap through the right side of the field. The team’s momentum continued in the seventh, with Patrick Wisdom contributing an additional RBI by smashing a double against Ron Marinaccio.

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The highly regarded All-Star right-handed pitcher, Gerrit Cole (8-2, 2.79 ERA), boasts an impressive track record of 10 wins and 3 losses with a stellar 2.53 ERA in his 15 career starts against the Chicago Cubs. Meanwhile, the Cubs will counter with Drew Smyly (7-5, 4.10 ERA) as their starting pitcher for Saturday’s matchup.

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