Judge and Rodón unable to deliver as Yankees drop Game 2 to Royals in ALDS

NEW YORK (AP) — Two games into this postseason, those big-money deals for Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodón haven't paid any October dividends for the New York Yankees.

Judge mustered little at the plate again Monday night and Rodón failed to last four innings in his first playoff start with New York during a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals that squared their best-of-five AL Division Series at one apiece.

Game 3 is Wednesday night in Kansas City.

“If I’m not hitting 1.000, I’m not feeling good,” Judge said. "So just got to keep getting on base for the guys behind me. If they get on, I've got to drive them in.”

Given a 1-0 lead going into the fourth, Rodón immediately squandered it by serving up a leadoff homer to Salvador Perez on a 2-0 slider that left the $162 million pitcher shaking his head.

It was Perez's fourth career homer off Rodón — the All-Star catcher entered 12 for 26 (.462) with nine RBIs in their regular-season matchups.

Rodón had looked sharp early, letting loose a primal scream after striking out his first three batters on 12 pitches (10 for strikes) and later hitting 99 mph on the radar gun. But he labored through a scoreless third inning that included two hits and then never regained his footing in the fourth.

“Stuff-wise, he was excellent tonight. But then all of a sudden just a little scattered there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Yuli Gurriel followed Perez's homer with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Tommy Pham and No. 9 batter Garrett Hampson each had a run-scoring single on a two-strike slider.

And when Maikel Garcia greeted reliever Ian Hamilton with an RBI single, Rodón was charged with four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

“Obviously, I want to be better than that — especially how the first three innings went,” Rodón said. “I wouldn’t say I tired out. Just got to be better with those pitches, just more fine with them and get to better spots."

Coming off a strong regular season, Rodón was picked to pitch Game 2 with an eye toward him being fully rested for a decisive Game 5, if necessary. But his performance under the spotlight Monday inspired little confidence.

Rodón also was ineffective during two previous postseason appearances with the Chicago White Sox from 2020-21. He was 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in one short start and a brief relief outing.

The 31-year-old Rodón went 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA over 172 innings in 32 starts this season, the second of a $162 million, six-year contract he signed with the Yankees as a free agent. He was 3-8 with a career-worst 6.85 ERA over 14 outings during a 2023 season that didn’t start until July 7 because a strained left forearm and back stiffness.

Judge went 1 for 3 with a walk and an infield single. He is 1 for 7 with four strikeouts and no RBIs in his first postseason since signing a $360 million, nine-year contract after setting an American League record with 62 home runs in 2022 and winning the AL MVP award.

New York missed the playoffs last year.

The star slugger had a couple of chances to inflict damage in the early innings. But he struck out swinging against Cole Ragans with two runners aboard and nobody out in the first, then flied out deep to right field with Gleyber Torres on first base in the third.

“I just sliced it a little bit," Judge said. "We get that one to get into the seats, man it’s a different ballgame.”

Judge topped the majors this year with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs and a 1.159 OPS, propelling the Yankees to an AL East title. He batted .322 and scored 122 runs.

But the playoffs have been a different story entirely as he chases the first World Series appearance of his illustrious career.

“You can never count him out,” teammate Juan Soto said. “He’s the greatest hitter of all-time right now. He’s just doing his thing. He struggled a little bit with the fastball today but I know he’s going to bounce back.”

In his last 12 postseason games, Judge is 6 for 43 (.140) with 19 strikeouts. He has a .208 batting average in 46 playoff games with 13 homers, 25 RBIs and 70 strikeouts.

“You’re not going to hold him down long,” Boone said. “He’s been on base three times in the first two games. It’s not that easy. It’s baseball. Hitting is a game of failure. He’s going to get more opportunities, and I’ll continue to place my bets on him.”

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Kansas City Royals' Tommy Pham (22) scores as New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón looks on during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) reacts after striking out the batter during the first inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón reacts after striking out the Kansas City Royals to end the top of the first inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón motions to the dugout after knocking down a line drive ball during the third inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) reacts after striking out the batter during the first inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts as he takes a walk against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge takes a walk against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón reacts as he walks off the field during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge watches his fly ball as he heads down the baseline during the third inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone as he leaves the game during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge reacts after flying out against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SELVA DI VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) — Marco Odermatt finally conquered the Saslong and the Swiss standout did it in style.

Odermatt put down what he called “one of my best” downhill runs on Saturday to win a World Cup race in Val Gardena as the three-time overall World Cup champion looked like back to his imperious best.

The 27-year-old beat Swiss teammate Franjo von Allmen by 0.45 seconds for his first victory at the resort in the Italian Dolomites. Odermatt had had four podium finishes there — including in Saturday’s super-G — but had never been better than second.

It was Odermatt’s 40th World Cup victory but only his third in downhill.

"It was one of my best downhills," Odermatt said. “If you want to win the downhill, you need the perfect run and today already on the top, which is not really my section, I could ski very well and finally I also jumped well, and then it was really perfect. So yeah, very happy with the run.”

It had also been a less than stellar start to the season for Odermatt — by his lofty standards — and he yelled out in joy several times after crossing the line, before taking off his skis and raising them up and letting out another long shout.

Before Odermatt came down it had been an incredibly tight race, with the top three separated by just 0.02. In the end, American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished third, with Nils Allègre of France missing out on what would have been only his second ever podium finish by one hundredth of a second.

It was Cochrane-Siegle's third podium after also finishing third in Val Gardena four years ago and winning the super-G in Bormio 10 days later.

“It was good skiing, it was fun,” he said. “Gardena is a really challenging hill to ski, in the sense of skiing fast. I’ve had runs here where I thought I’d put down a good one, and it’s been seconds out, so you really never know until you cross the finish line.

"I was just focusing on trying to carry speed as much as possible. When I ski my best I do that — keeping skiing really simple, back to basics.”

Odermatt won the downhill World Cup title last season, as well as the super-G, giant slalom and overall crystal globes.

The only previous downhill this season was in Beaver Creek, where Odermatt finished second to teammate Justin Murisier.

Odermatt moved 78 points above Murisier in the downhill standings and 50 points above Henrik Kristoffersen in the overall.

The circuit moves to nearby Alta Badia where there is a giant slalom on Sunday and a slalom the following day.

Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn finished 14th in a super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland to mark her return to World Cup skiing at age 40. Her comeback continues in a super-G in St. Moritz on Sunday.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt listens to the national anthem on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, celebrates on the podium with second-placed Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, left, and third-placed United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebratesat the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)