A soggy Monday night in the Bronx ended in frustration for the Yankees, who let a 3–0 lead slip away in a 4–3 loss to the Padres. The night started on a high note thanks to Carlos Rodón, but it unraveled late when the bullpen couldn’t close the door.
Rodón Delivers, Offense Backs Him Early
Carlos Rodón looked every bit the ace New York hoped for, tossing 6⅔ shutout innings and giving up just three hits. His slider was sharp, his command steady, and he kept San Diego off balance all night. Offensively, the Yankees got on the board with a two-run homer from Trent Grisham in the third, followed by a sac fly from Anthony Volpe in the sixth, giving Rodón a comfortable cushion to work with.
The Eighth Inning Collapse
That cushion evaporated quickly in the eighth. Devin Williams came in and couldn’t find the zone—loading the bases on two outs. Luke Weaver was called on to put out the fire but instead poured gasoline on it, surrendering a two-run double to Manny Machado and a go-ahead single to Xander Bogaerts. Just like that, a well-pitched game turned into another painful loss.
Williams, who was expected to be a shutdown piece in the back end of the bullpen, has struggled badly since joining the Yankees. His ERA has ballooned to 10.03 across 14 appearances. After the game, Williams cited the wet mound conditions as a factor, saying he was “battling the mound” as much as the hitters.
A Bullpen That’s Been Great—Except for One Piece
It’s important to note that Williams’ woes are the exception, not the rule. The rest of the Yankees’ bullpen has been lights out. Take him out of the equation, and the unit has a 2.01 ERA (30 earned runs). Even with Williams included, their collective ERA stands at a still-strong 2.67. Williams has given up 13 of the 43 total earned runs allowed by Yankees relievers this season.
Guys like Luke Weaver (despite Monday’s hiccup) and Fernando Cruz have been dependable, with Weaver even stepping in as closer. The foundation is solid—the Yankees just need Williams to settle in.
Looking Ahead
The Yankees have now dropped five of their last seven games, and with the AL East tightly bunched and underperforming as a whole, they can’t afford to let this skid continue. At 19–16, New York technically leads the division—but every other division leader across MLB has already topped 20 wins. If the Yankees want to hold their place atop the AL East and avoid getting passed by surging teams like Boston or Baltimore, they need to right the ship quickly.
Clarke Schmidt takes the mound in Game 2 against San Diego, and the Yankees are looking for more than just a win—they need to reset the tone.
