NEW YORK -- The Yankees entered the day intending to keep the Rays from celebrating an American League East title as long as possible. Carlos Rodón did his part and then some.
Rodón looked playoff ready with eight scoreless innings, and Cody Bellinger belted a two-run homer as the Yankees defeated Tampa Bay, 2-0, in the first game of Tuesday’s separate-admission doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
The victory was the 100th of Rodón’s career, and with an eighth-inning strikeout of Jonny DeLuca, the left-hander recorded his 1,500th career strikeout.
No batter reached second base against Rodón, who scattered three hits and faced the minimum through six frames. He did not walk a batter.
Likely to begin the playoffs hosting the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series, the Yankees have yet to announce their rotation plans.
But with manager Aaron Boone stating he expects Gerrit Cole to get a start and AL Cy Young Award frontrunner Cam Schlittler and Max Fried also in the mix, Rodón could be waiting in the wings to start Game 1 of a potential AL Division Series against the Rays.
In a contest that made up a May 23 rainout, Rodón outpitched Nick Martinez, who allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. Bellinger’s homer was his 17th of the season.