The Yankees' struggles continued on Thursday as they dropped their fourth straight game in a 9-2 rout by the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
Here are the takeaways...
-Carlos Rodon wasn't sharp once again, allowing eight runs on 10 hits over five innings – the third consecutive start in which he has surrendered at least five earned runs.
The problems started early for Rodon, who was tagged for five runs before recording a single out in the first inning.
It appeared as if Rodon was just running into some tough luck: he allowed a leadoff single to Bo Bichette under the glove of Anthony Volpe, a broken-bat bloop RBI double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a RBI single from Justin Turner on a dribbler down first base that Ben Rice thought would go foul before ultimately hitting the bag.
Of course, Rodon did himself no favors by also hitting Isiah Kiner-Falefa after the Bichette single and finally the big blow – a three-run home run to George Springer before finally recording his first out with New York down 5-0 already.
Springer tagged Rodon again in the second for another three-run home run, which really put the game out of reach. Rodon eventually settled down afterward and was able to grind through five innings for the Yankees, possibly saving them a bullpen arm.
-Rodon actually convinced manager Aaron Boone to leave him in the fifth inning to get the final two outs with two runners on base, which resulted in a somewhat humorous moment as reliever Phil Bickford had to turn around and head back to the bullpen after jogging halfway across the outfield.
-While Rodon’s start was disappointing, the Yankees’ offense did not exactly inspire much confidence. They mustered just three hits, with the only runs coming on a two-run home run from Trent Grisham in the fifth inning.
Five of Grisham’s 10 hits (in 69 at-bats) this season have been home runs.
-The Yankees also put multiple runners on base in the first inning for the third consecutive game and for the third time failed to capitalize. Although this time there was two outs before the Yankees put a runner in scoring position, which ended with a pop up from Rice in foul territory.
-The fourth straight loss marks the Yankees' longest losing streak of the season.
MVP of the Game: George Springer
The Blue Jays outfielder tormented the Yankees yet again, finishing 3-for-3, including two, three-run home runs in back-to-back innings to lead the Blue Jays to victory.