Rodón Learns from Cole, Delivers a Commanding Performance
On Monday night, Carlos Rodón stepped up when it mattered most, leading the Yankees to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The left-hander, who had struggled with his emotions in his previous postseason start, took inspiration from teammate Gerrit Cole’s composed demeanor and applied it to his performance. The result?Six brilliant innings with nine strikeouts and just one run allowed on three hits. Rodón's dominance—especially with his slider—brought the Yankees to within three games of making their first Series since 2009.
Rodón’s ability to control his emotions proved crucial. The pressure got to him in his first start against the Kansas City Royals, but he took note of Cole's composed demeanor. According to ESPN Research, Rodón's pitching performance on Monday resulted in 25 swing-and-misses, which is the highest number of any Yankees pitcher in a postseason game since pitch monitoring started in 2008.
"He had total control over both his emotions and himself," Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked following the contest.
Yankees Bullpen Secures the Win
The Yankees bullpen took over to seal the victory after Rodón left the game. Tim Hill, Luke Weaver, and Clay Holmes combined to record the last nine outs.. The Guardians threatened in the eighth inning, scoring a run against Hill and putting runners on first and second. Weaver quickly ended the rally by pinch hitting Will Brennan and forcing José Ramírez to ground out.
Finally, to finish the game, Weaver, who had struggled as a starter, settled down to strike out three hitters in the ninth. He became the first pitcher for the Yankees to record multiple five-out saves in the postseason since Aroldis Chapman in 2017 thanks to his effort.
Guardians’ Pitching Falters
The opening pitcher for the Guardians was right-hander Alex Cobb, who was making his first start since the 2024 campaign. Cobb's night was ended before it reached eight outs due to back spasms and a strained left hip.. Juan Soto, the slugger for the Yankees, launched a leadoff home run in the third inning, sparking his troubles. From then on, Cobb walked with the bases loaded, which resulted in an early departure.
Cleveland's bullpen didn’t fare much better. When Joey Cantillo faced Anthony Rizzo, he gave up two wild pitches, which led to two runs being scored. In the fifth, Cantillo also walked Gleyber Torres and gave up two more wild pitches before being removed from the game without recording an out. The Guardians' pitching staff, plagued by wildness, tied an MLB postseason record with five wild pitches and issued seven walks.
“"We just need to assault the zone better," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt stated following the game.For them, we made things far too simple.
Rodón Overcomes Early Challenges
Rodón's emotions overcame him during his previous postseason start. But on Monday, he seemed more composed. To begin the game, Steven Kwan, the leadoff hitter for the Guardians and a man noted for his contact abilities, put Rodón to the test with a nine-pitch at-bat. However, Rodón persisted, and in the end, Kwan was retired on a flyout. Rodón recovered his groove in the second inning and retired 11 straight batters into the fifth after a difficult first inning in which he fired 22 pitches.
Rodón's run was broken by Brayan Rocchio's single home run in the sixth inning, but the left-hander was unfazed. Aaron Judge ended the inning with a line drive to the warning track, capping his night with a victory in a nine-pitch duel against José Ramírez. With the Yankee fans applauding him as he left the mound, Rodón's metamorphosis from a fiery competitor to a composed ace was complete.
Control the Key to Rodón’s Success
In light of his performance, Rodón underlined the significance of being composed. "The objective was to retain both mental and physical control," he said.. "I thought I handled things pretty well tonight."
Rodón pitched one of his best games ever on the mound at a crucial juncture for the Yankees, and his performance on the mound spoke for itself. The Yankees gain the upper hand in the series with their victory, moving one step closer to their eagerly anticipated trip back to the World Series.
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