Carlos Rodon sucks life out of crowd as Yankees let Royals back into ALDS with uninspired Game 2 loss

· New York Post

For as much progress as Carlos Rodon made across his final seven starts of the season, when he collected a 2.68 ERA and resembled the pitcher the Yankees paid $162 million last year, all of that unraveled Tuesday night in Game 2 of the ALDS.

And it cost the Yankees by creating a deficit that a stagnant offense couldn’t erase during their 4-2 loss to the Royals that evened the series at a game each as its shifts back to Kansas City.

Carlos Rodon didn’t make it out of the fourth inning during his start on Oct. 7. Charles Wenzelberg
Juan Soto reacts after recording an out during the Yankees’ Game 2 loss on Oct. 7. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Tommy Pham hits an RBI single during the Royals’ Game 2 win on Oct. 7. Charles Wenzelberg

Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the third inning when his infield single allowed Gleyber Torres to score.

But in the fourth, Salvador Perez started the Royals’ burst with a homer before Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson and Maikel Garcia all hit RBI singles to build the three-run lead.

Carlos Rodon struggled for the Yankees during their Game 2 loss on Oct. 7. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The Royals evened the ALDS on Oct. 7 after their win against the Yankees. Jason Szenes for the NY Post

Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went a combined 2-for-10, but both of those hits were infield singles.

Jazz Chisholm led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run, but the Yankees failed to mount a comeback.