NEW YORK – Before the biggest start of his life, Carlos Rodón utilized the resources that come with being a New York Yankee .
And then he justified the significant investment New York has placed in his burly left arm.
Monday night at Yankee Stadium , Rodón lived up to the expectations the Yankees levied upon him when he signed a six-year, $162 million contract before the 2023 season. Two seasons of injury-plagued, erratic, 4.74-ERA teeth-gnashing were all but forgotten with every swing and miss by a Cleveland Guardian, every zero hung on the scoreboard.
And in Game 1 of this American League Championship Series, Rodón not only joined this postseason party burgeoning in the Bronx, but showed he may be a significant reason why the Yankees just might hang World Series banner No. 28.
New York registered a 5-2 victory and claimed a 1-0 ALCS lead thanks in no small part to its might, literal and financial. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton each deposited home run balls in the outfield bullpens. Newly minted closer Luke Weaver put out a flash fire in the eighth, stranding the tying run at the plate, and continued his perfect postseason by striking out the side in the ninth for a five-out save.