NEW YORK — After allowing 15 earned runs in his previous 8 2/3 innings, left-hander Carlos Rodon didn’t pitch badly against the Reds on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. But the long ball got to him and the Yankees were beaten 3-2.
Unlike his previous two starts, Rodón didn’t let the first inning get out of hand. In fact, he retired the Reds in order. But in the next inning, Rodón found himself at a disadvantage when he allowed a two-run homer to Noelvi Marte.
Rodón calmed down until the fifth inning, when he allowed a solo home run to Stuart Fairchild to put the game within three runs.
Rodón lasted until the sixth inning, when manager Aaron Boone pulled him with one out and 95 pitches (57 strikes). From the look on his face, Rodón didn’t want to leave the game. It took teammate Gerrit Cole to calm him down in the dugout.
The Yankees attempted to rally in the seventh inning. After Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott left the game with one out, Anthony Volpe doubled Jahmai Jones and Austin Wells off Fernando Cruz to make it a one-run game. Volpe advanced to third on a wild pitch, and after Juan Soto walked, Aaron Judge came home with two on but hit into a double play to end the threat.
The next inning, the Yankees had runners on first and second with two outs, but Reds left-hander Justin Wilson struck out Trent Grisham to end the threat.
