Yankees chill out in frigid loss to Tigers in Detroit
Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning on Monday in Detroit. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya
DETROIT — Yankees players, coaches and manager Aaron Boone raided the cold-weather closet late Monday morning for the first of a three-game series that was moved to afternoon start times because of unusually frigid temperatures, even for this city in the Midwest that is used to harsh winters and springs.
They all donned an assortment of layers — everything from compression sleeves to ski hats to hoodies, gloves and turtlenecks, many of the latter hoisted up over their faces.
“We know we have a job to do,” Boone said before the game. “Doesn’t matter if it’s 80 and sunny or 40 and drizzling. We’ve got a job to do.”
On a day that started with flurries and a first-pitch temperature of 38 degrees (with a steady wind that made it feel like 19), the Yankees did not do it.
Carlos Rodon, seemingly impervious to the cold by taking the mound in short sleeves, sputtered after two perfect innings and the Yankees’ bats never got on track in a 6-2 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park.
Rodon, a proud outdoorsman who spends much of his winters in Indiana hunting, allowed six runs (five earned), four hits and three walks in six innings-plus, striking out eight.
It was the walks that most bothered Rodon, who was particularly irritated after not getting a strike call on a borderline 3-and-2 slider to No. 9 hitter Ryan Kreidler in the third inning. That free pass, which followed a walk to Jake Rogers, put two runners on with one out.
After Justyn-Henry Malloy struck out for the second out, Andy Ibanez laced a 1-and-0 changeup for a three-run homer to leftfield to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
“Obviously frustrated with the call, but it was called a ball and it was a walk,” said Rodon, who is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA through three starts. “I tried to move on quickly. I wouldn’t say it affected me. Obviously, it’s in the back of my head, obviously I want that pitch called a strike, but it wasn’t, and I gave up the three-run homer. That’s what hurt me.”
Rodon, who retired the first seven hitters he faced, ended that streak in the third by walking No. 8 hitter Rogers.
“Definitely tired of walking people,” said Rodon, who has allowed nine in 17 1⁄3 innings this season. “It’s frustrating. I don’t want to give up free bases.”
The Yankees (6-4), who actually outhit the Tigers 7-5, were held in check by Casey Mize. The righthander allowed one run, four hits and three walks in six innings, striking out six.
The Tigers (6-4) have won six of seven after being swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles to begin the season.
Boone, who felt Rodon threw the ball “excellent” with the exception of a few pitches, said his offense took good at-bats overall.
“I thought we were having the right at-bats. I thought we just missed some balls in the air in the outfield and then couldn’t punch through,” Boone said. “Made a mistake on the bases, and Mize was good. But I thought we were very close to really putting together a couple big innings.”
The mistake on the bases belonged to Ben Rice, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and is hitting .333 with a 1.175 OPS. But after lining a triple with one out in the third, Rice got picked off by Rogers with Aaron Judge at the plate.
“It’s just poor baserunning,” Rice said. “Being a little too aggressive . . . it doesn’t feel good.”
Notes & quotes: For the second time in a week, the Yankees signed righthander Adam Ottavino to a major-league contract and selected him to the active roster. The club signed the New York City native on April 1, which corresponded with closer Devin Williams going on the paternity list. Ottavino appeared in two games before getting designated for assignment last Friday when Williams returned. He elected free agency on Sunday but was re-signed on Monday after the Yankees optioned Brent Headrick to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (the lefthander pitched two innings and threw 36 pitches in Sunday’s 11-inning loss to the Pirates). It likely will be another short stint for Ottavino as righty Ian Hamilton, who started the season on the injured list because of a viral illness that delayed his buildup, is expected to be activated before Tuesday afternoon’s game . . . Boone said DJ LeMahieu, who is with the team in Detroit and is on the IL with a left calf strain, could start a rehab assignment as soon as Friday.
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
