Rodon Smokes ‘Em; Bronx Bombers Bomb ‘Em. NY 8 Toronto 3

August 4, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0
Aaron Judge blasts a 2-run homer in the 1st -- his 41st homer of the year.

Carlos Rodon was in high form on a HOT, HUMID, BLAZING SUN Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium — SMOKING the Blue Jays with a HARD fastball and mesmerizing off-speed stuff — and the Bronx Bombers provided plenty of offense to give the Yanks a relatively easy 8-3 win.

Rodon’s final line of 5.1 innings, 3 runs on 3 hits, with 8 K’s did not nearly reflect how dominant he was, in the wilting conditions.

He allowed a homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.in the 1st inning, and the other 2 runs scored after he left with a 6-1 lead — Jake Cousins allowing a 2-RBI single in the 6th.

Meanwhile Aaron Judge countered Vlad’s HR with a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 1st, Trent Grisham hit a 2-run HR in the 2nd, Anthony Volpe hit a 2-run HR in the 5th, and then Volpe and Austin Wells singled in insurance runs in the 7th and 8th respectively, as the Yankees cruised.

“You like to put a zero up in the 1st, but then the offense shows up and Judgey does what he does, and we’re up 2-1, and I know going into the next inning I want to put up a shut-down inning and keep the lead,” said Rodon afterwards. “What Judge was 4-4 or 3-3 I don’t know, with the intentional walk? What was he? 2-3 with 2 walks and a homer… that’s a pretty good season for a lot of people but with him we’re just halfway through.”

NY improves to 66-46 and were back in 1st by themselves after the game, until Baltimore won their game in the evening, tying them for 1st again. Toronto falls to 51-60.

1. Rodon SMOKES ‘Em

It was Rodon’s 3rd straight great start, and the start before that was a pretty good start too (4 innings, 2 runs against the Orioles). He has now put the 5 straight losses from middle of June to middle of July — which included 4 horrific starts — in the rear-view mirror.

As he has said, he has started to mix in his off-speed stuff from the beginning, instead of solely relying on establishing the fastball, and become less predictable.

Rodon allowed a 2-out homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.in the top of the 1st, and then — after Judge got him back the lead — mowed down Toronto with a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd and 3rd, pitched around a single and a walk in the 4th, and then threw a 1-2-3 inning in the 5th.

Ump Laz Diaz Screws Rodon in 6th

In the 6th, he walked George Springer to leadoff, but then struck out Loperfido, and then threw 2 straight 1-1 pitches inside to Guerrero that seemed to hit the inside of the strike zone — but ump Laz Diaz called them balls.

Guerrero fouled off a strike to run the count 3-2, then hit a pitch opposite way ‘just fair’ down the right field line for a double.

“Vladdy’s swinging it really well; I think my last pitch to him was 100 away and he shoots it to right — I tip my cap on that; that’s my best ball,” said Rodon afterwards.

Kirk vs Cousins

NFL star Kirk Cousin’s cousin Jake Cousin came in to face Alejandro Kirk — and kismit was achieved.

Kirk hit a little bloop single to left that fell in for 2 runs — both charged to Rodon — for a 6-3 game.

Cousins got the last 2 outs on lineouts to end the inning.

Rodon improves his record to 12-7 4.37 — at one point in June he was 9-2 2.93, then fell to 9-7 4.63.

2. Judge 2-Run Homer in 1st

Aaron Judge immediately countered Vlad’s HR with a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 1st, after Juan Soto had walked against Toronto starter Jose Berrios. It was Judge’s 2nd straight game with a HR that turned around a deficit in the 1st.

3. Grisham 2-Run Homer in 2nd

Trent Grisham added to the lead with a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 2nd, after Ben Rice had gotten on due to an error by 2nd baseman Spencer Horwitz.

4. Judge Intentionally Walked with 2 Outs, Nobody On

Toronto manager John Schneider intentionally walked Aaron Judge with 2 outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 2nd. That is how feared Aaron Judge is right now.

Austin Wells followed with a single and the Yanks had a 2-out rally going, until Gleyber made the final out.

5. Volpe 2-Run Homer in 5th

Anthony Volpe made it 6-1 with a 2-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th, after Gleyber Torres had gotten on with a 1-out single.

6. Volpe Insurance RBI Single in 7th

And Volpe did it again with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th — with runners on 1st and 3rd (Judge and Gleyber, who both had walked), Volpe knocked an 0-2 slider from Ryan Burr to left for a CLUTCH RBI single and 7-3 game.

7. Wells Insurance RBI Single in 8th

Austin Wells did the same in the bottom of the 8th — a clutch, 2-out RBI single with runners on 1st and 3rd (Alex Verdugo, who had gotten on due to an error, and Judge, who had singled) for an 8-3 Yankee lead.

8. Frustrations with Home Plate Ump Escalate in 7th

Frustrations with the calls of home plate up Laz Diaz escalated in the bottom of the 7th, as Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman (who had started the night before) was tossed for ragging on Diaz from the dugout during “God Bless America”. Carlos Rodon‘s wife Ashley agreed with the complaints.

9. Weaver Good; Kahnle Good

Luke Weaver pitched a shutout 7th — striking out 3 batters sandwiching a walk.

Tommy Kahnle pitched a quick, shutout 8th — allowing a leadoff single to Joey Loperfido, but striking out Guerrero and getting a double play to end it.

10. Leiter Not So Good; Holmes the Save

Mark Leiter Jr.came in for the 9th — and allowed single (to Horwitz), lineout (by Ernie Clement), single (by Daulton Varsho), and single (to Leo Jimenez) to load the bases with 1 out in the 8-3 game. Leiter got a popout for the 2nd out and Boone brought in Clay Holmes for the save.

With bases loaded, 2 outs, Holmes struck out George Springer on 4 pitches for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570140

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