Carlos Rodon allows pair of home runs in Yankees' 4-3 loss to Rays
The Yankees fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field.
Here are some key takeaways...
- Carlos Rodon’s first pitch of the afternoon was sent 396 feet for a solo home run by Yandy Diaz, and his afternoon didn't fare much better from there. it was clear he was working in more cutters and changeups as to not simply rely on his fastball and slider, but he wasn't very sharp.
Rodon's day ended after allowing a two-run homer to Richie Palacios in the top of the fourth. He went 3.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits (two home runs) while walking one and striking out two.
After struggling last season, Rodon's 2024 spring hasn't been great, as his ERA now sits at 6.35.
- Juan Soto worked the count and singled off Taj Bradley in his first AB, raising his spring batting average to a ho-hum .700. He went hitless in his next two at-bats, lowering his average to .583.
- Gleyber Torres launched his first homer of the spring in the bottom of the sixth inning. Torres pulled his hands inside and drove a line drive over the wall in left. Torres finished with two hits on the day and his hitting .313 this spring.
- Anthony Rizzo had a couple of hits on the afternoon. One of the hits was a soft flare to right, but no matter what it's nice to see Rizzo looking comfortable at the plate after his post-concussion symptoms last year, and he's hitting at a .500 clip this spring.
- Aaron Boone has raved about the Yankees’ organizational catching depth, and some of that talent was on display on Wednesday. Carlos Narvaez, the 25-year-old who originally signed with the Yankees in 2016 as an international free agent, showed off some opposite field pop with a solo homer to right in the bottom of the eighth.
Narvaez played 16 games at the Double-A level last season before playing 84 games in Triple-A, and he’ll likely be in play to make his major league debut in 2024 if the Yankees endure any injuries.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Yankees will host the Detroit Tigers on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. The Bombers have not yet announced a starting pitcher.
