After winning Game 1 of the Bronx portion of the Subway Series Tuesday evening, the Mets have a chance to take the season series with a win over the Yankees in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Making just his second start this season after dealing with a stress fracture in his rib, much of those hopes revolve around Jose Quintana.
For the Yankees, Carlos Rodon will be making just his fourth start this season after dealing with his own injuries.
Rodon’s Yankees tenure has gotten off to an ugly start, as they’ve lost all three games he’s pitched
He enters the game with an 0-3 record and a woeful 7.36 ERA.
It reached a boiling point during his last outing against the Dodgers, when he blew a fake kiss at a jeering Yankees fan amid another rough performance.
Can he finally start to turn his season around, or will the Mets claim bragging rights?
And after Pete Alonso’ huge night in Game 1, who will be the hero in Game 2?
Follow along for all The Post’s coverage:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has swung a hot bat of late, and that continued Wednesday night. He spoke about the Yankees' win: Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the win: We responded well. They have a good team over there. We were able to put some pressure on them, get some runners on base and we were able to cash in tonight. #YANKSonYESpic.twitter.com/Fvxwx8c8Mx Listen to Aaron Boone answer questions following the Yankees' win: There was plenty to talk about after the big win. Aaron Boone broke down Carlos Rodón's night, provided an update on Aaron Judge, discussed the bullpen's performance and more with the media. #YANKSonYESpic.twitter.com/NAbOebQKFJIsiah Kiner-Falefa on Yankees' win
By Jared Schwartz Aaron Boone breaks down Yankees' win
By Jared Schwartz
And here's Jeff McNeil's answer about the pitch that hit him in the back, and why he threw his helmet afterwards:
"Just got hit with a 96 MPH fastball. I get a little frustrated sometimes. A little upset but I know it wasn't on purpose."
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2023
Jeff McNeil shares his reaction to Carlos Rodón hitting him in the back: pic.twitter.com/Q2irfnFa93
Listen to Carlos Rodon speak about the pitch he threw that hit Jeff McNeil in the back:
Carlos Rodón discusses the pitch he threw that hit Jeff McNeil:
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 27, 2023
"There's no animosity... we're professionals. This is our livelihood and the last thing I want to do is hit someone like that" pic.twitter.com/6a08kz6ZCl
Carlos Rodon is off the schneid.
After three brutal starts to begin his Yankees career, going 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA and one sarcastic kiss, the $162 million left-hander set out on Wednesday to, in his words, “not suck or suck less.”
Rodon accomplished his goal and channeled his emotions into screams when he successfully navigated through traffic, finally giving the Yankees the kind of start he needed on the way to a 3-1 win over the Mets in The Bronx.
The Mets had no rally in them, and the Yankees won 3-1 to salvage a split for both this series and the season-long series.
Trevor Gott pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and now the Mets head to the top of the ninth inning trailing 3-1.
Do they have some Subway Series magic in them
Or will the Yankees salvage a series split?
The Mets were retired in order in the eighth, and now look to hold their deficit at 3-1 in the bottom of the frame.
Drew Smith used a wonky double-play to pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning.
The Mets enter the eighth inning down 3-1, with just six outs left to erase the deficit.
Do they have a comeback in them?
Francisco Lindor fields the fortunate bounce and the Mets turn two 💪 pic.twitter.com/GxNeKItbTS
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2023
Wandy Peralta worked a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, setting down Danny Mendick, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos in order, respectively.
It remains 3-1 Yankees heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Jose Quintana faced runners on first-and-third with one out in the sixth inning, but escaped without surrendering a run.
He struck out Kyle Higashioka and then while pitching to Oswald Peraza, a pitch bounced in the dirt.
DJ Lemahieu, who was on third, briefly darted toward home, and Alvarez quickly recovered the ball and caught Lemahieu in a run-down before Quintana tagged him out.
It meant another scoreless inning for Quintana, as the Mets trail 3-1 heading into the seventh inning.
The ball bounces away from Francisco Alvarez, but the Mets get DJ LeMahieu caught in a rundown to end the inning! pic.twitter.com/2KzL3MPKDm
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2023
Carlos Rodon came so close to making it through six innings for the first time this season.
He retired the first two batters in the inning, but after surrendering a single to Mark Canha, Aaron Boone opted to bring in Michal King in relief.
Rodon finished with 5 2/3 innings pitched -- still a season-high --and surrendered five runs, one run and three walks while striking out four batters.
The 93 pitches he threw were also a season-high.
It's certainly his best start of the season, and perhaps a sign he's headed in the right direction.
