Yankees 2-5 Nationals: Rodón’s Rough Night, Yankees’ Offense Falters in Series Loss

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New York Yankees 2-5 Washington Nationals

Dylan Crews, the Nationals’ standout rookie, made his presence felt early and often, sparking his team to a 5-2 victory over the Yankees and clinching the series. Crews, a top prospect, led off the game with a home run to left-center off Carlos Rodón, setting the tone for the Nationals.

In the fourth inning, Crews continued to showcase his talent, ripping an RBI double that extended Washington’s lead to 5-1. His family’s exuberant reaction in the stands mirrored the impact of his impressive performance, as the Yankees struggled to contain the young star.

Nationals Silence Judge as Chisholm Shines

The Nationals managed to keep Aaron Judge in check for the third straight game, preventing him from hitting his 52nd home run of the season. Judge, who had recently surged to 51 homers, seemed poised to challenge his own American League record of 62. However, this was the first time in over two weeks that Judge went three games without going deep. Despite the home run drought, Judge still made an impact with an RBI single and two walks.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. continued his hot streak, belting his career-high 22nd home run and his ninth as a Yankee. In the second inning, he crushed a fastball from MacKenzie Gore over the center field wall.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto, a pivotal player in Washington’s 2019 World Series win, struggled mightily against his former team, going 0 for 12 in the series. The Yankees, clinging to a slim one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East, couldn’t muster enough offense to overcome the Nationals.

MacKenzie Gore delivered a strong performance for Washington, pitching six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits. The Nationals’ bullpen also stepped up, as Jose A. Ferrer, Jacob Barnes, and Kyle Finnegan combined to stifle the Yankees‘ bats.

Yankees Struggle Against Nationals’ Rookie-Laden

On a sweltering night, the Nationals’ lineup, brimming with six rookies, posed a significant challenge for Carlos Rodón. The trouble began after Dylan Crews launched a home run, setting the tone early. Rodón allowed two more runners to reach base, and his frustration with the PitchCom system boiled over. His visible protest led to a balk, allowing James Wood to score from third. The heated moment between Rodón and plate umpire Tony Randazzo prompted manager Aaron Boone to step in and calm things down.

Despite the oppressive heat, Rodón seemed indifferent to holding runners on base, which played right into the Nationals’ hands. Known as the major league leader in stolen bases, Washington exploited Rodón’s slow pickoff attempts, running at will. Their aggressive approach was on full display in the second inning when they swiped four bases and capitalized with two runs, thanks to RBI singles by Nasim Nuñez and James Wood.

However, the Nationals’ aggressive base running backfired in the eighth inning. José Tena lined a single over Aaron Judge’s head, but Joey Gallo’s indecision on the basepaths led to a chaotic sequence. Gallo was caught in a rundown and tagged out, while Juan Yepez scrambled back to second base. Tena, caught between first and second, was also tagged out, completing an unusual double play that momentarily halted the Nationals’ momentum.

The Yankees Roster

Up Next

The Yankees are set to begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Marcus Stroman, the Yankees’ right-hander with a 9-6 record and a 3.88 ERA, will be on the mound, opposing Cardinals’ right-hander Erick Fedde, who enters the game with an 8-7 record and a 3.31 ERA.

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