BRONX, NY — The New York Yankees dealt with an all too familiar sight last night, with the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen shutting them down in the Bronx. Last October, Toronto’s bullpen ended the Yankees’ season with an opener in Game 4 of the 2025 ALDS. And that was on the same field as Thursday’s series finale.
The Blue Jays gave up just two runs on that October night in a 5-2 win with each reliever entering from the ‘pen producing on the bump.
The Blue Jays ended the Yankees’ season last year in the ALDS at Yankee Stadium, winning the best of five series, 3-1 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Carlos Rodón, a two-time LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year, making his third start of 2026, did his part Thursday night to give the Yankees a shot with one run over five innings and seven strikeouts. All together, it was the best he’s looked since returning from offseason surgery though the one at-bat Rodón would like back is the walk to 2021 AL LatinoMVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first that came around to score on a flukey double by Dalton Varsho that hit off the third base bag at 65-MPH.
The 33-year-old Cuban-American left-hander was happy with his progress postgame but also noted a desire to cut down on his walks and go deeper into games. At this point, he’s basically fully built himself back up into form.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said after throwing 95 pitches, 60 for strikes, with three walks allowed. “Obviously, I’d like to get deeper into games. Just a step forward, but it can still be better.”
Carlos Rodón won the American League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2021 with the White Sox as well as in 2025 with the Yankees – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Rodón’s first two outings left a lot to be desired, tossing 4.1 innings of three run ball against the Milwaukee Brewers and then in his second time out, allowing two earned runs over 3.2 innings against the New York Mets.
“It was encouraging, and I thought he was great,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Rodón’s outing. “I mean, I thought the secondary was good, but the fastball was terrific in getting swing and miss. And it’s not an easy team to always get swing and miss (on), but I thought his fastball really played… definitely Carlos’ best of the three (starts in 2026). He stayed within himself and didn’t try to do too much.”
“There was some small stuff I cleaned up mechanically,” Rodón added. “More of mental cues and slowing the game down.”
It was 1-0 after one, and stayed that way for a while, until notorious Yankee killer, George Springer, added on with a solo home run against Camilo Doval in the seventh—his fourth HR of 2026 and 17th against the Yankees in his 13-year MLB career.
The Yankees’ offense could only muster three hits with their best chance appearing in the eighth while there was a man on first and second with no outs. Add into the mix, this spot featured the two best hitters in pinstripes up at the plate—Ben Rice and Aaron Judge—which ended up with Rice flying out to center field and then Judge rolling into a double play against Tyler Rogers.
Once again, Blue Jays manager John Schneider played his bullpen cards perfectly, and every single one of them hit. The unsung hero for Toronto was Spencer Miles, who took the bulk role with 4.1 scoreless innings and six strikeouts, helping secure the 2-0 win and four-game series split in the Bronx.
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