From Steve Schaeffer:
For the Yankees, Thursday night was all about extinguishing fires.
Wrapping up a three-game set that manager Aaron Boone said “took some months and years off me,” the Yankees topped the Astros, 8-4, to win the series at Daikin Park and complete a 5-1 road trip.
With the bullpen following his example by escaping jams in the seventh and ninth innings, Carlos Rodón earned his 16th win to grab a share of the Major League lead with Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta. Rodón (16-7) threw 109 pitches over six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks.
“I thought he threw great today,” Boone said of his left-hander, whose 16th win also matched the career high he set last year. “With all those righties, I thought he used his changeup so well, and he had a good fastball to go with it. I thought he was really good even deep into the outing. I thought he was almost getting sharper.”
After a tough 8-7 loss on Wednesday, the Yankees had voiced their issues with home-plate umpire Brian Walsh’s strike zone. Rodón said his goal Thursday was to stay even-keeled, and he succeeded.
What the fuck do they mean by “hold serve”? when the Yankees won the series? Weird.
In any event, this was a nice win. Rodon pitched well, and the bullpen somehow didn’t blow it (Weaver is in the middle of his WWWLW? period. Just perfect timing for Toronto). The offense showed some life, too, especially Ryan McMahon.
The featured image is Rodon making Altuve look dumb on a strikeout. That was the last highlight that they had for Rodon in a game he pitched 6 innings and allowed just two runs!