How Carlos Rodon ‘made it work’ after blown strike call in Yankees win over Angels

In another time, the call could have sent Carlos Rodón’s outing off the rails. 

The left-hander was pitching with a two-run lead in the fourth inning Thursday when he got Jo Adell to chase a 1-2 slider below the zone.

Adell began to walk back to the Angels’ dugout as home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz checked with first-base umpire Bill Miller to see if he went around, to which Miller somehow said he did not — to the incredulousness of just about everyone wearing pinstripes. 

Two pitches later, Adell drew a walk. 

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Instead of letting the blown call blow up his outing, though, Rodón remained calm and retired the next two batters on the way to a 7-3 win. 

On a day when the Yankees’ offense finally gave its starting pitcher some run support, Rodón was not his best.

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But even without an overwhelming fastball and some adversity thrown his way, he controlled the game and continued to show growth from his earlier Yankees days. 

“I thought he navigated that well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Didn’t let it bother him, didn’t let it fester. Just went out and got the next two guys out and calmed things down. That was important.” 

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Rodón made it sound simple. 

“It’s just one of those things that’s out of my control,” he said. “They don’t call many check swings. Wish I got it, but just move on and keep going.” 

Rodón gave up just four hits over six innings, but three of them were home runs — the first time since last June he gave up three in a single start.

His strong season to this point was marred early by his one big mistake being a three-run home run in a few starts, but Thursday he allowed just three other baserunners outside of the solo shots. 

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“You just keep going,” Rodón said. “Three solo shots, obviously I want to be in a better place with those pitches. So there’s stuff to work on this week and be better at, but all in all we won the game. 

“The secondary wasn’t bad. Think I could have been better with the fastball command. Obviously not the super jumpy fastball, but made it work.” 

Rodón has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 16 starts this season.

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He continued a strong stretch of pitching for the Yankees, as their starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 43 of their past 51 starts and each of their past 10 games. 

“I thought [Rodón] managed the game well on a day when he maybe didn’t have his best stuff,” Boone said. “Stayed away from the damage with guys on, and limited guys being on.” 

As for the blown call on the Adell check swing? Boone grinned and offered a long pause. 

“They’re not perfect,” he said.