Rodon shines, Jazz returns with go-ahead blast as Yankees edge Guardians 3–2

New York—The Yankees took down the Guardians 3-2 in an ALCS rematch as Jazz Chisholm Jr. made his return from the IL. Carlos Rodon got the start for the Yankees, and Tanner Bibee got the nod for the Guardians.

Rodon gave up a back-to-back one-out single in the top of the first inning to put runners at the corners. Rodon picked up his first two strikeouts of the ballgame to help work out of trouble.

Bibee struck out Trent Girsham, Ben Rice, and Aaron Judge in order in the bottom half of the first inning. 

In the top of the second inning, Rodon worked an easy 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts to put his total up to four for the game. 

In the top of the third inning, Rodon retired the Guardians in order thanks to a beautiful play from Jazz at the hot corner, at third base, as well as a nice scoop from Paul Gaolshmidt at first base for the final out of the frame. 

“I mean, I feel like I'm a natural third baseman,” Jazz said.  “You know, sometimes I just go out there. I just feel superhuman over there. But, you know, getting the reps in, just coming into it for the team every night is just all I ask as we come out here and I go over there and help us win every night.”

Rodon retired the Guardians in order, as he has now retired 14 hitters in a row and picked up his seventh strikeout of the ballgame in the process.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jazz dunked in a bloop single to left field for the Yankees' first hit of the game and his first hit since coming off the IL. JC Escara then worked a two-out walk. The next batter, DJ LeMahieu, drove in Jazz with a line drive RBI single to right field, making it 1-0 Yankees.

Rodon retired the Guardians in order thanks to a fan interference call in right field between Judge and a fan, and Rodon picked up his eighth strikeout of the game to get through six shutout innings on just 70 pitches. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Jose Rameriez picked up a leadoff single to break up a streak of 17 straight hitters retired. Ramirez immediately stole second base and came around to score on a RBI single from David Fry to make it 1-1, on a play that DJ probably could have made, also snapping a 20-inning scoreless streak for Rodon. The Yankees picked up a big second out at second base after Grisham bobbled a ball, then recovered to gun down the runner at second base. Rodon then picked up a fly out to keep it a tie ballgame.

Jazz led off the bottom of the seventh inning by finding the short porch in right field, his eighth home run of the season, to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

Anthony Volpe followed that up with his seventh home run of the season to make it back-to-back bombs, and make it a 3-1 game.

“I mean, it's great. You know me and Volpe, are two man is unstoppable,” Jazz said.  “We always said that from last year to this year, we just can't wait to get back on the field and play with each other. So I'm super excited to be back.” 

In the top of the eighth inning, Mark Leiter Jr. replaced Rodon on the mound and worked a scoreless inning.

Carlos Rodon's final line: seven innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, 13 swings and misses, and eight strikeouts on 93 pitches. Rodon threw his fastball 39% of the time, the slider 27%, the changeup 17%, the sinker 9%, the curveball 8%, and the cutter 1% of the time. Rodon was dominant yet again, as if it wasn't for DJ not making that play in the seventh, his scoreless inning streak would probably be up to 21, but it is what it is. 

“You know, once again, JC called a great game,” Rodon said. “Then we made some big defensive plays there, you know, at the end with Grish with a great throw to second and D.J. with a great tag. So you know, kept that game 1-1 for me. And let me get that last out.”

With Luke Weaver going on the IL earlier today for 4-6 weeks, Devin Williams will take over the closer role in the meantime. Williams came in for the top of the ninth, replacing Leiter Jr., and gave up a RBI single to Daniel Schneemann to make it a 3-2 game. But Williams was able to pick up the final out to strand the tying run at second base, pick up the save, and give the Yankees a 3-2 win. 

The Yankees will look for the series win tomorrow with Clarke Schmidt on the mound and Luis L. Ortiz getting the start for the Guardians. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

My thoughts on the game: Rodon with another excellent start, firing eight innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts. It was great having Jazz back in the lineup tonight after missing all of May. He was back in a big way with two hits and the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, as well as playing some great defense at third base. Volpe also went deep tonight, which ended up being the game winner as he continues his hot hitting. DJ also had another great game at the plate with an RBI single, and all his outs were loud outs. Mark Leiter Jr. was also great out of the bullpen, and Devin Williams didn't make it easy, but he got the job done in the end; that's all that matters. On to tomorrow as the Yankees look to win the series.