The New York Yankees faced a tough defeat on Saturday, being shut out for the seventh time this season in a 4-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Yankees, managing just four hits, couldn’t find their rhythm against the Tigers’ pitching.
Rodon Struggles in Short Outing
Carlos Rodon, who has recently shown strong performances, couldn’t find his groove on the mound. The left-hander lasted only 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five. His struggles started early, giving up a ground-rule double followed by an RBI single to Colt Keith in the first inning, putting the Yankees in a 1-0 hole.
The trouble continued in the second inning. Rodon allowed a leadoff double to Spencer Torkelson, and with two outs, Zach McKinstry singled to drive in another run. A walk and a double by Andy Ibañez added two more runs, pushing the Tigers’ lead to 4-0.
Rodon found himself in a jam again in the third, with runners on the corners. However, he managed to escape by striking out Javier Baez. He returned for the fourth inning but was pulled after striking out McKinstry, having thrown 90 pitches.
The Tigers hit Rodon hard, with five of the seven hits he allowed coming off the bat at 99 mph or faster. All of his runs came with two outs, making it a tough outing for the southpaw.
Yankees Offense Goes Cold
The Yankees’ bats were quiet against 23-year-old Tigers pitcher Keider Montero, who entered the game with a 5.76 ERA. Montero silenced the Yankees, allowing just two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings while striking out five.
Montero faced his biggest challenge in the third inning. With a runner on, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge came to the plate. Montero got Soto to chase a changeup for a strikeout, then induced a groundout from Judge to end the inning.
The Yankees made a final push in the ninth inning. Judge led off with a double, and Alex Verdugo drew a two-out walk. Anthony Volpe gave the ball a ride to deep left field, but Tigers’ Matt Vierling made the catch at the wall, sealing the Yankees’ fate.
Bullpen Shines in Relief
If there was a bright spot for the Yankees, it was the bullpen. For the second consecutive game, the relievers didn’t allow a run. Jake Cousins, Tim Mayza, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill combined for 5.2 innings of scoreless work, giving the Yankees a chance to stay in the game.
Looking Ahead
The Yankees and Tigers will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday in Williamsport, Pa., as part of the Little League Classic. However, rain could push the game to Monday back in Detroit.
