The second and final subway series of the 2023 MLB season kicked off on an intense note. The New York Yankees were desperate for a win as they strived to keep the playoff dream alive. On the other hand, New York Mets were also desperate as they ranked just below the playoff wild card spot. As a result, both teams were expected to deliver a fierce battle.
In the first matchup, the Mets pulled out their trump card as they had future Hall of Famer pitcher Justin Verlander make a start. The rest is history. Justin heavily dominated the already struggling Yankees offense as they clinched the series opener by 9-3. However, in the next game, the Bronx Bombers sought sweet redemption.
Yankees Relievers Pitches Perfect Game To Trash Mets In Game 2 Of Subway Series
Throughout the month of July, the New York Yankees’ bullpen faced challenges, with some relievers struggling to find their rhythm and consistency. Initially, the Yankee relievers had the best bullpen ERA in the league. However, the offensive lackluster and the starter’s underperformance put additional pressure on the relievers as they succumbed to it. Entering Wednesday, the Bombers bullpen had a 4.89 ERA. But things changed on Wednesday. In the pivotal game of the Subway Series against the New York Mets, the Yankee relievers came through to pitch a perfect game. Starter Carlos Rodon set the stage right after giving away only one run in over five innings pitched.
The Yankees relievers, Michael King, Wandy Peralta, Tommy Kahnle, and Clay Holmes, pitched the remaining 3.1 innings without leaking a single run to lead the team to a 3-1 win. Tommy Kahnle, especially, who had a breakdown vs. Angels, was sharp. He got two groundouts and one strikeout to leave the Mets scoreless in eight innings. After Wednesday’s perfect game, the Yankee bullpen’s ERA is back to being the best in the league, as it came down from 4.89 to 3.20. The bullpen’s comeback is a positive sign for the Bronx Bombers. They need the relievers to cover for starters in case they have a bad day. Hence, the fans would pray the Yankee bullpen continues to be the best in the league.
Carlos Rodon Comes Through For The First Time In Pinstripes
New York Yankees off-season star acquisition Carlos Rodon returned from the injury list a few weeks ago. However, he has struggled to gain his usual aggressive rhythm on the mound. In the three starts Rodon has made so far, he has failed to lift his team across the finish line. However, on Wednesday, the starting pitcher had his moment of redemption. He pitched five innings without giving away more than one run, which helped the Bombers secure a 3-1 win over the Mets to level the Subway series.
After the game, Carlos Rodon said that while he is happy for the win, he would have preferred to get this win about three starts ago. He is indeed happy with the outing against the Mets. However, Rodon feels he still has a lot to improve and a lot to accomplish. This is just the beginning. The Yankees pitcher will look to capitalize on this and try to do better on the mound from here on.
