Rodón falters in 4th after emphatic start to Game 2
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NEW YORK -- Carlos Rodón looked as electric as the Yankee Stadium crowd that was cheering him on to start Monday night’s Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Royals.
The lefty, a 16-game winner during the regular season, looked like he was going to turn in a signature outing in his first postseason start in pinstripes. But Rodón couldn’t maintain a fast start that saw him strike out the side in order in the first while throwing a mere 20 pitches through the first two innings.
That early electricity short-circuited in a big way for Rodón, who didn’t make it through a fourth inning in which Kansas City scored four runs in their 4-2 victory.
Is it possible Rodón was too amped up and that led to him flattening out in the fourth?
The Royals certainly noticed Rodón shouting with excitement after all of those strikeouts in the opening frame, particularly the one against Vinnie Pasquantino to end the inning. At that point, Rodón seemed like he was breathing fire as he roared back to the dugout.
“Yeah, everyone saw it in [the Royals' dugout],” said shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. “That’s why we play nine innings. Can’t get too excited about one inning. For me, I went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. I can’t get too upset about that. We won the game. Now we move on and press forward.”
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Rodón didn’t think his early adrenaline tired him out.
“I wouldn't say I tired out,” Rodón said. “I’ve got to be better with those pitches, just more fine with them and get to better spots.”
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What can’t be disputed is that the momentum swung in the game for good in that fourth inning, and now the Yankees hope it doesn’t swing too far in the wrong direction in a best-of-five series tied at 1-1 as the festivities shift to Kansas City for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday.
When a Division Series under the current 2-2-1 format has been tied after two games, the team heading home for Games 3-4 has gone on to win the series 29 of 44 times (66%).
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And if the series goes the distance and returns to the Bronx for Game 5, Rodón would likely be the starting pitcher, a scenario in which he would be under pressure to rebound with his team’s season hanging in the balance.
If that winds up being the case, the 31-year-old is confident he can change the narrative.
“There's more baseball to be played,” Rodón said. “They don’t just go find anyone to pitch here at Yankee Stadium. [Pressure] comes with the territory, and I’m all for it. I wish I could have been better today, clearly. I expect more from myself but I just know next time I go out there, I’m going to compete my butt off.”
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His compete level certainly didn’t seem to be the issue for Rodón, who gave up seven hits and four runs over 3 2/3 innings, walking none and striking out seven. He threw 49 of his 72 pitches for strikes.
The issue in the game-turning fourth inning was consistent mislocation of his slider.
Everything seemed to change when Salvador Perez led off the inning by belting a middle-middle slider for an equalizing solo shot to left. It was the latest occasion of Perez tormenting Rodón. The veteran catcher is 13-for-28 lifetime (regular season and playoffs) against Rodón with three homers and 10 RBIs.
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“His stuff was excellent tonight, and then Salvy leading off the inning was the first guy that it felt like he got behind [to],” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “I felt he was pounding the strike zone with really good stuff all night. He falls behind him, and from there started making some mistakes with his secondary [pitches] just in the heart of the plate.”
The long ball has been an issue for Rodón, who surrendered 31 home runs during the regular season, a number topped only by Boston’s Kutter Crawford.
Though Rodón kept the ball in the park for the rest of the inning, the Royals stayed after him with three singles before he exited.
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The night started with such excitement for Rodón, who took a second to take in his surroundings before firing his first pitch.
“It’s a pretty cool experience to be able to pitch a playoff game in Yankee Stadium,” Rodón said. “They had some great energy today, and all of us could feel it, just like Game 1.”
And if this series comes back to the Bronx, the energy will be even higher and much of the spotlight will be on Rodón.