BRONX, NY — It’s the Aaron Judge show with the New York Yankees. He hit his Major League leading 49th home run at Yankee Stadium Friday evening and got the attention of 38,916 fans, the Rockies, and of course manager Aaron Boone and the team.
The home run also caught the attention of Yankees starter Carlos Rodón who threw six scoreless innings (14-8) and moved into a tie for Major League wins with the Yankees 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Rodón and the Yankees starting rotation are also moving along. Now throwing 19 scoreless innings from the trio of Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Gerrit Cole. The Yankees won their third straight, 6-3 in their last nine, and have two consecutive shutouts.
Carlos Rodón (2021 AL LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year) is 14-8 this season in 26 outings with a 4.16 ERA – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Yes, the Rockies are a team with the second worst record in the National League (47-82) though playing out the string as if they were contending for a playoff spot. The Yankees need length from their starters, six innings is sufficient with a bullpen that is taxed and closer Clay Holmes finished the ninth without a struggle in recording his 27th save.
But for the Yankees to overtake the Orioles for the AL East division, a close race with a 1-½ lead, they need Rodón and the rotation to go deep into games. Rodón did his part, vastly improved from early season struggles.
His tendency to throw the home run ball, trouble with his slider and fastball were a major part of the struggles. Friday night, the slider got him out of trouble twice in the third and fifth innings with two outs and runners on base. Both times, Brandon Rodgers stranded runners at first and second, swinging and missing on a 87-mile slider and a nasty changeup.
Carlos Rodón's 3Ks in the 3rd…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/IpQlrHY9eG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 23, 2024
Regardless of the scoreless outings from three parts of the Yankees rotation, Rodón is instrumental. He follows Cole in the rotation and according to Rodón they feed off each other. The Yankees look for Marcus Stroman to regroup and wait for the return of Clarke Schmidt who threw four innings and gave up a run in his first Double-A rehab start Friday evening. He, too, could be a key down the stretch after going down with a right lat strain in late May.
“We’re almost competing against each other,” Rodón said. “Just keep throwing up those zeroes. You don’t want to be the guy that gives up the run.”
Rodón has allowed three runs or fewer in 19 of his starts, tied for fifth in the American League and considering how he struggled prior to the All-Star break this has been quite a turnaround. In his last four starts at home, Rodón has allowed four earned runs.
“He set the tone for us,” said manager Aaron Boone. Four of his five strikeouts came off the slider, command of the breaking ball and fastball got him out of trouble.
Yankees’ captain Aaron Judge and manager Aaron Boone during Friday night’s series opener against the Rockies – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Rodón said coming to the ballpark early and working on adjustments have been the difference, also something that Cortes said about his last few starts that have been efficient. The fastball and slider saw the Rockies go 3-for-17.
But Rodón is not that economical pitcher. After six innings the pitch count reached 102, something pitching coach Matt Blake and Rodón are trying to adjust, a work in progress and significant going down the stretch for the Yankees to play deep baseball in October.
Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Yankees’ pitching coach Matt Blake in 2024 Yankees spring training – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Rodón, though, has become reliable. The ERA of Yankees starters in their last 12 starts has been a bit under 2.00. It’s a key for the Yankees to go deep in October to have Rodón and their rotation to be effective.
And he, like others, is amazed at what Judge continues to do. It’s become a show in the Bronx and Rodón is a happy camper because a Judge home run gave him the lead, easier to work ahead than from behind.
Giancarlo Stanton also helped Rodón, a fourth inning solo home run 22 on the season and consecutive games with the long ball.
Back-to-back games with a home run for Giancarlo Stanton ⚾️💣 He now has 22 HR on the year #Yankees #RepBX #LatinoSports #MLB pic.twitter.com/lE6dZgxH9t
— Latino Sports (@LatinoSports) August 24, 2024
“I wasn’t here in ‘22, but I feel like he’s more of a complete hitter this year,” Rodón commented about Judge. “He’s hitting, he’s working counts, he gets walked in an outrageous clip.”
But a key for the Yankees down the stretch is the consistency from Rodón and the starting rotation. The Yankees feel they are in a good place and having Carlos Rodón on the right track is what they always expected.
Rich Mancuso is senior writer and contributor for Latinosports.com – X (Twitter) @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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