Yankees Swept By Red Sox After Carlos Rodon’s Rough 4th Inning

Jun 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Yankees needed to win this game after dropping the first three in Boston. They did not and lost, 5-4. Carlos Rodon threw a lot of pitches and particularly struggled in the fourth inning. Rodon started this game for the Bronx Bombers, and he pitched against former Yankee Sonny Gray.

The impish Gray did not pitch very well in New York. The intense media scrutiny did not suit him. He has, however, pitched well everywhere else he has been. He ruffled some feathers in the Bronx when he signed his free agent contract with the Red Sox, saying he wanted to beat his former team. Did tou think the Yankees could get swept in Boston?

Yankees Against Red Sox Game Summary June 28

Willson Contreras swinging at a pitch during a game against the Brewers. He is terrorizing the Yankees.
Apr 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Willson Contreras (40) hits a home run during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

This game was important for the Yankees as they hoped to avoid getting swept in Boston. They lost the first three games of the series there, which is odd because they swept a series up there in April. The team was relying on starting pitcher Carlos Rodon to be a stopper during their three-game losing streak. The Rays, meanwhile, have won five games in a row. The team came into this game now one-half game behind them in the American League East standings. Here is a summary of this game.

In the fourth inning, Caleb Durbin hit a two-run single. Wilyer Abreau and Wilson Contraras both scored. It was 2-0 Red Sox. In the ninth inning, Ben Rice hit a sacrifice fly. That made the score 2-1. The game was tied on a fielder’s choice by Paul Goldschmidt. Anthony Volpe scored.

Then the Yankees took the lead in the tenth inning by scoring two runs. First, Amed Rosario singled and Max Schermann scored. Then Amed Rosario scored on an Austin Wells groundout. In their half of the tenth inning, Anthony Seigler singled and Chad Durban scored. That made it 4-3. Then, Tsung-Che Cheng hit a sacrifice fly, and Andruw Montastario scored. The game was tied at 4. Then, Jarren Duran singled, and Masataka Yoshida scored. The Red Sox won 5-4.

The Awful American League Will Save Them

The Yankees are struggling. They have significant injuries, are not scoring runs, are playing shoddy defense, and some of their great pitching is getting hit hard. As a result, they are losing games. However, it is important to realize that the American League is very bad this year. Right now, there are only four teams that are over .500, and the Seattle Mariners are currently the third Wild Card team. They are one game below .500.

This weakness should help the Yankees. They have scored 102 more runs than they have given up. This is far and away the best mark in the American League. That bodes well, as run differential is a major determinant of team success. They currently lead the Wild Card race, and it would not be surprising to see them win the division. However, the Tampa Bay Rays are, as usual, playing much better than they should. One thing is certain: with so many teams in contention, there will be few sellers at the trade deadline.

Carlos Rodon

It seems like Carlos Rodon has a rough inning in every start. It also seems he throws a lot of pitches. That is a concern for somebody coming off an elbow injury. The team needs him to be a stopper, even though he had off-season elbow surgery. He is clearly a bulldog, but with all the injuries, which seem to be lingering, Rodon needs to pitch well. Right now, hw needs to allow no runs, because the Yankees are not scoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Red Sox won this game 5-4. This win swept the Yankees out of Boston. This was ironic since the Bombers swept a series in Boston in April. The player of this game was Sonny Gray. He was fantastic against his old team and started most hitters with the most important pitch in baseball, strike one. Gray pitched seven shutout innings. He struck out seven batters. Walked only one and did not surrender any hits. This series is now over, and the Red Sox got quality starts from all four of their starting pitchers in this series. The Yankees host the Detroit Tigers tomorrow night. Meanwhile, the Red Sox play the Washington Nationals.

Conclusion

The frustration is mounting for the Yankees. In the sixth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was leading off in this game, was ejected for arguing that he checked his swing on strike three, when it was ruled he did not, and struck out. Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon was removed from the game after giving up only one hit. The Yankees were swept in this series.