The New York Yankees didn’t immediately rebound from their recent offensive struggles on Sunday, coming off a shutout loss less than a day earlier.
However, a pivotal three-pitch sequence propelled the Yankees to another series victory.
On Monday afternoon, the Yankees will aim to reignite their power when they face the Oakland Athletics to kick off a four-game series at home.
Carlos Rodon (1-1, 3.66 ERA) is set to start for New York against JP Sears (1-1, 4.35 ERA) in a matchup of left-handed pitchers.
The Yankees clinched their sixth series win in seven attempts on Sunday as Alex Verdugo delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the fifth inning, securing a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile, the Athletics concluded a three-game sweep with a 6-2 defeat against the Cleveland Indians.
Following Verdugo’s pivotal hit, Jose Trevino and Oswaldo Cabrera added RBI singles on the subsequent two pitches for the Yankees, who amassed nine hits (all singles) in Sunday’s game. Over the past three games, New York has managed only two extra-base hits.
Verdugo, who contributed three hits on Sunday, emphasized the team’s focus on capitalizing with runners in scoring position. Despite recent challenges, the Yankees are tied for fifth in the American League with 22 home runs this season.
Oakland faces a tough road ahead, finishing their current road trip against the Baltimore Orioles, who trail the Yankees by just half a game in the AL East.
In Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Rodon endured a loss after allowing three runs over four innings. He holds a 4-1 record with a 3.19 ERA in six career starts against the Athletics.
Meanwhile, Sears, who made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2022 before joining the Athletics, is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against New York.
