This was supposed to be a different Carlos Rodon.
He was a reliable starter throughout his two seasons in the Bronx.
Instead, the Yankees showed what they saw in Rodon’s first year, as he didn’t pitch until the fourth inning in a 4-2 loss in Game 2 of the ALDS vs. the Royals in the Bronx. I got something pretty close to.
Rodon’s postseason career with the Yankees seemed to be off to a great start until it fell apart in the fourth.
He struck out after just 12 pitches in the first inning, and each time he struck out, he let out an exclamation, spinning his body around on the mound and screaming.
That confidence quickly evaporated in a game in which Rodon gave up four runs in 3²/₃ innings.
It’s a scene familiar to Yankees fans, but this time the Yankees were leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, then allowed four runs in the top of the fourth. I witnessed it disappear. .
Rodon looked dominant in the first two innings, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced and retiring six, and pitching around two hits in the third inning.
However, in the fourth inning, Salvador Perez homered a 2-0 hanging slider to left to tie the game at 1-1, but things got worse from there.
Yuli Gurriel followed with a single — yes, from a slider — and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
Tommy Pham hit another poor slider to right-center field to put Kansas City ahead, and after Rodon was on the verge of ending the inning without doing any more damage with a Hunter Renfroe strikeout, Rodon hit a slider again. He was burned by a single to right-center field. Garrett Hampson scored to make it 3-1 and end the night.
Ian Hamilton came on and allowed Garcia an RBI for the fourth and final run of the inning.
The final results were very different from the initial results.
The Yankees hope the 31-year-old will continue his strong regular season with a 2.20 ERA in his past five starts and be even more effective heading into the series against Kansas City, where they lead 2-0. I was expecting it.
Instead, Rodon faced six batters in the fourth inning, four of whom scored, but the Yankees’ offense had nothing to do against left-hander Cole Ragans and four Kansas City relief pitchers. I couldn’t.