Rodon’s gamble backfires, team blunders sink Yankees against Tigers

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Braving near-freezing temperatures in short sleeves, Carlos Rodon‘s mettle against the elements wasn’t enough to overcome his command struggles on Monday afternoon. The Yankees southpaw and his teammates stumbled through a series of self-inflicted wounds, resulting in a frustrating 6-2 defeat to the Tigers at Comerica Park.

The loss dropped New York to 6-4 on the season, marking their second consecutive defeat despite outhitting Detroit 7-5. What began as a promising outing quickly devolved into a showcase of missed opportunities and mental miscues.

Rodon’s control abandons him

Rodon’s day started brilliantly with seven straight outs, including four strikeouts, looking every bit the ace the Yankees need him to be with Gerrit Cole sidelined. But the wheels came off in the third inning when he issued consecutive walks to the Tigers’ least threatening hitters – catcher Jake Rogers and infielder Ryan Kreidler.

Though Rodon appeared frustrated by a borderline pitch to Kreidler that wasn’t called strike three, he took accountability afterward.

“Bottom half of the order just got to go attack,” Rodon said postgame. “Frustrating that I’m falling behind those guys… I’m tired of walking people. It’s frustrating. I don’t want to give up free bases.”

The breaking point came immediately after Andy Ibanez pounced on a mislocated 1-0 changeup that drifted into what Rodon described as the “no-no zone.” The result was a three-run blast that gave Detroit a lead that they never relinquished.

Despite racking up eight strikeouts through six-plus innings, Rodon was tagged for six runs (five earned) and issued three more walks, pushing his season total to nine free passes in just three starts. His ERA has ballooned to 6.00, a troubling figure for a pitcher the Yankees are counting on heavily.

Boone offers vote of confidence

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone defended his starter’s performance, suggesting the final line didn’t reflect Rodón’s overall effectiveness.

Boone defended his starter’s performance, noting that Rodon had thrown the ball great. He pointed out that Rodón didn’t get the call on Kreidler before making the one mistake that turned into a three-run homer. In Boone’s assessment, outside of that sequence, Rodon was excellent.

Boone highlighted Rodon’s ability to work deep into the game as particularly valuable given recent short outings from other starters and a taxed bullpen.

Defensive lapses compound problems

The Yankees’ defense did Rodon no favors. In the fifth inning, third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera botched a routine grounder from Colt Keith, extending the inning unnecessarily. Rodon then issued another walk to Rogers before Justyn-Henry Malloy delivered a two-run single that pushed Detroit’s advantage to 5-1.

Cabrera’s miscue marked the Yankees’ fifth error in ten games, continuing an alarming trend that has repeatedly hampered the team’s momentum.

The baserunning wasn’t any better. Ben Rice, after smoking a triple to right-center in the third inning, was picked off third base by Rogers with Aaron Judge at the plate and only one out – a cardinal sin in baseball.

“Just poor baserunning,” Rice said, who reached base three times. “Being a little too aggressive, getting caught on my front foot, a little too open. … It doesn’t feel good. But now learn from it and move on.”

Boone’s assessment was equally straightforward, acknowledging it was clearly a mistake. He explained that Rogers is known to throw to third base, and Rice had been too aggressive with his secondary lead.

To twist the knife, Judge walked on the very next pitch before Cody Bellinger lined out to end the inning – a pivotal sequence that loomed large as the game progressed.

Tigers control throughout

Meanwhile, Tigers starter Casey Mize effectively neutralized the Yankees‘ potent lineup, allowing just one run across 5.1 innings while striking out four. Though New York made solid contact at times, they couldn’t string together enough consistent pressure.

Judge drove in a run in the fifth to narrow the gap to 3-1, and the Yankees added another tally in the eighth thanks to a pair of Detroit errors, but by then the outcome was essentially decided.

Notably absent was the Yankees’ power display – they entered the day leading MLB with 25 home runs but failed to clear the fences for the second consecutive game.

Looking ahead

Monday’s 6-2 defeat wasn’t about being outclassed by superior talent – it was about execution failures. From Rodon’s third-inning collapse to Rice’s baserunning blunder, the Yankees largely defeated themselves.

Games like these don’t make highlight reels, but they count just as much in the standings. If the Yankees aim to maintain their position atop the AL East, eliminating these self-inflicted wounds will prove just as crucial as any offensive explosion or pitching masterclass.

With two straight losses and another matchup in Detroit on Tuesday, the Yankees face questions about situational hitting and baserunning fundamentals. While it’s too early for panic, Rodon’s command issues, defensive inconsistency, and mental errors on the basepaths require immediate attention.

Clarke Schmidt’s expected return to the rotation around April 15-16 may force difficult decisions regarding Rodón and alternatives like Carlos Carrasco or Will Warren as the Yankees seek stability throughout their starting five.

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