This AI-generated overview is based only on the article you are reading. Read the full article for complete details.
The Yankees responded to Friday’s 10-inning loss by defeating the Padres 5-1 Saturday at Petco Park, moving to 81-61 and one win from clinching their 34th straight winning season. Carlos Rodón allowed two hits and one run over five innings with seven strikeouts, while four relievers completed four scoreless innings. Ben Rice reached base five times, and Spencer Jones delivered a two-out, two-run double during a four-run second inning.
Rodón held San Diego to two hits and one run over five innings, striking out seven and walking three. Manny Machado hit the only Padres home run against him.
Rice went 3-for-3 with two walks and scored twice, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances.
At 81-61, the Yankees are one victory away from clinching their 34th straight winning season.
Well, that’s more like it.
After blowing Friday night’s game in the 10th inning, the Yankees came right back Saturday afternoon and handled the Padres, beating San Diego 5-1 at Petco Park.
And honestly, this was the type of response you wanted to see.
No drama. No late-inning nonsense. Just jump on them early, get good pitching and finish the damn game.
The Yankees are now 81-61, have won 5 of their last 7 and 13 of their last 19. They are also just 1 win away from clinching their 34th straight winning season.
And the Yankees basically put this one away in the second inning.
Spencer Jones came through against his hometown team, drilling a 2-out double into the right-field corner to score Ben Rice. Jones went to La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad.
That’s what happens when you keep the line moving. The Yankees drew 7 walks in this game and loaded the bases in 3 different innings. They weren’t necessarily crushing the ball all over Petco Park, but they kept making San Diego pitchers work.
Ben Rice was probably the biggest offensive story. He went 3-for-3 with 2 walks and scored twice. That’s a perfect 5-for-5 reaching base kind of afternoon.
Rodón hadn’t won in his previous 4 starts, but he came out Saturday and held the Padres to 2 hits and 1 run over 5 innings while striking out 7. He did walk 3, but when he needed the big pitch, he got it.
The only real mistake was a solo homer by Manny Machado in the fourth inning.
That’s it.
And once Rodón was done, the bullpen took over.
Michael Fulmer, Brent Headrick, John Schreiber and Tim Hill combined for 4 scoreless innings. The Padres finished with just 3 hits and struck out 12 times.
That’s a game you can breathe through.
Spencer Jones finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, giving him his 10th double and 30th RBI of the season.
And I like what I’m seeing from Jones. He’s not trying to do too much. He’s taking what the pitcher gives him, and Saturday he came through in a big spot.
Remember, this is the same guy who delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning Friday night before Luis Campusano’s walk-off homer ended that game.
So Jones has already been involved in some big moments in this series.
Now the Yankees get a chance to win the series Sunday.
Born in Manhattan, New York, Felix Pantaleon is a Dominican-American digital content creator and the founder of NYYNEWS, one of the first and longest-running independent New York Yankees content creator platforms, active since 2005.
