Rodón exits start with possible leg injury

NEW YORK — With wins becoming as valuable as fresh air in the Bronx, the Yankees are depending on Carlos Rodón to return to form and bolster their unstable rotation more than ever. He left Sunday’s pivotal series finale vs. the Astros in the third inning with left hamstring tightness.

Rodón’s efforts to produce a bounce-back afternoon started off well, as he retired the top of the Astros’ lineup in order to begin the game. He ran into trouble in the second frame after walking two batters, giving up a three-run blast to Jake Meyers with two outs and giving back the one-run lead he was gifted by a Gleyber Torres solo homer.

In the third inning, he let up a two-run blast to Yordan Alvarez on an 0-2 slider on the corner, allowing the Astros to take a 5-1 lead. Then, in the middle of his two-out at-bat against Chas McCormick, Rodón was seen moving gingerly before returning to the mound. Manager Aaron Boone and team trainers came out for a long discussion with Rodón, and after two warmup pitches, he exited the game with the coaching staff.