Rodon sharp in return, but Yankees' losing streak reaches 9

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees made sweeping changes Tuesday before a series opener against the Washington Nationals, but the results remained the same.

The addition of two prized prospects into the lineup -- and the return of starting pitcher Carlos Rodon -- did not turn the tide for a team stuck in last place in the American League East. Carter Kieboom and CJ Abrams authored solo home runs and the Nationals outlasted the Yankees, 2-1, pushing New York's losing streak to nine games.

Rodon was sharp in his return, but did not receive much support from the scuffling Yankees offense. He threw 68 pitches across six innings, allowing six hits and one run, before giving way to the bullpen.

Before the game, New York injected some youth into the batting order, recalling outfielder Everson Pereira and infielder Oswald Peraza, two of the organization's top prospects, from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. They were immediately penciled into manager Aaron Boone's lineup, hitting Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, but combined to go 0-7, as the Yankees were held to two hits.

To make room for Pereira and Peraza, outfielder Billy McKinney was placed on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back spasm and outfielder Greg Allen was designated for assignment.

Also, outfielder Jasson Dominguez, New York's No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was promoted from Double-A Somerset to Scranton.

Pereira, the Yankees' No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is expected to play regularly in left field.

Since being promoted from Somerset to Triple-A last month, Pereira batted .312 with eight homers and 33 RBIs in 31 games. At two levels this season, he is .300 with 18 homers and 64 RBIs in 81 games.

Peraza made his major league debut last season and started at shortstop in Game 2 of the ALCS in Houston.

Peraza batted .173 in 19 games with the Yankees earlier this year. At Triple-A he is hitting .268 with 14 homers and 36 RBIs.

Before Tuesday, Rodon, off to a tenuous start with Yankees fans, last appeared in an MLB game on Aug. 6, when he went just 2 innings against the Houston Astros before leaving with a left hamstring strain.

Rodon, 30, is in the first year of a six-year, $162 million contract signed in December. After earning consecutive All-Star honors with the Chicago White Sox (2021) and San Francisco Giants (2022), Rodon missed the first three months of 2023 with forearm and back injuries before making his team and season debut July 7 against the Chicago Cubs.

Headed into Tuesday, Rodon's numbers weren't what the Yankees were expecting. In his previous six starts, the veteran was 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA. He had allowed 18 walks with 25 strikeouts and served up eight home runs in 27 innings before his solid effort vs. the Nationals.

Information from Reuters and the Associated Press was used in this report.