Carlos Rodon’s on-mound passion can be perceived as endearing when he is rolling and detrimental when he is struggling.
On Saturday, Rodon’s fiery attitude was endearing.
The Yankees lefty notched another solid start in an 8-0 win in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Rangers — one that might be remembered best for his reaction following a strikeout rather than the strikeout itself.
Rodon, who walked five and allowed three hits in five scoreless innings, continually found himself in trouble and continually escaped that trouble, best highlighted by the third inning.
After two quick outs, Rodon walked Marcus Semien and served up a single to Josh Jung, putting two on and forcing Rodon to bear down.
He battled with Texas rookie Wyatt Langford, who worked the count full and watched Rodon dot a hard fastball on the outside corner with the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
Langford tossed his bat away and started toward first base when home-plate umpire Adam Hamari punched him out — and Rodon began yelling toward the plate.
As it turned out, Rodon said he was not upset with Hamari but instead was directing his words toward Langford.
“I got a little mouthy,” said Rodon, whose ERA is 2.54 over his past five starts. “I got a little fiery with my emotion. And I think I said, like, ‘You swing the bat next time,’ or something. It’s nothing personal, just a reaction. … Actually I tip my cap to [Langford]. I think he’s a rookie. He put together two great at-bats against me.”
Rodon said he was “a little edgy” during the first game of a doubleheader, a personality quirk that works when the results are there but were problematic last season, when he once turned his back on pitching coach Matt Blake during a mound visit.
Everything has been better this season for Rodon, who was not efficient (a season-high 110 pitches) but still recorded 17 outs on a day the Yankees were concerned about bullpen use.
He allowed eight base runners but held Texas to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, walking off the mound in the sixth to a standing ovation and saluting a Bronx crowd that booed him often last season.
“Just trying to stay where I am right now,” Rodon said. “The goal for me is just to go out there and pitch and give my team the best chance to win and win the game. That’s it.”