Albies hits a 2-run homer on Rodón’s second pitch and the Braves beat the skidding Yankees 8-1

NEW YORK (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer on Carlos Rodón’s second pitch of the night, Austin Riley and Matt Olson also went wide of the left-hander and the Atlanta Braves routed the Yankees New York suddenly in trouble 8-1. Friday for their seventh victory in eight games.

“It’s a little more of who I think we are,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said after his team improved to 32-31. “It’s good to see the guys holding on and hopefully it’s a trend that will reverse itself for us.”

Chris Sale (10-2) joined Kansas City’s Seth Lugo and Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez as the major leagues’ only 10-game winner, picking up his first victory against the Yankees since 2018.

“Just like we weren’t worried when things weren’t going well, we’re not going to sit here and have a party when things were going well,” Sale said. “You just have to stay consistent, stay at work and continue to do your part. »

New York had lost five of six, including three in a row while allowing 32 runs to the Braves and Baltimore, and was in danger of falling below the Orioles into second place in the AL East before Baltimore lost 14-11 at Houston.

By the end of the fourth inning, the Yankees had allowed runs in 13 of 14 innings, including nine in a row, tying a team record from June 16–18, 1940.

“No one says it’s going to be easy to get through the whole year. Nobody says it will be flowers and it will be until the World Series,” Yankees star Juan Soto said. “We have to take it like a man, forget it and keep moving forward.”

Rodón (9-4) lost his second consecutive start after winning seven in a row. He allowed eight runs – seven earned – in 3 2/3 innings and 11 hits, including seven for extra bases. His ERA went from 2.93 to 3.86 in his last two outings.

“They attacked me on my strengths and they executed their moves,” he said.

He appeared to yell at assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel in the dugout after the end of the first.

“Emotions ran high,” Rodón said. “Just a little feisty there.” I gave up three runs, two home runs, that’s pretty much why.

Atlanta’s first five hits were fastballs as the Braves extended their winning streak to four. Atlanta has won four straight against the Yankees, outscoring them 26-4.

Sale allowed one run and one hit in five innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. The 35-year-old left-hander was an All-Star for seven straight seasons through 2018, then struggled with injuries before Boston traded him to Atlanta in the offseason.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto each struck out two against Sale. Judge has 18 strikeouts in 30 career at-bats against him and Soto has six in seven at-bats.

Albies homered after Jarred Kelenic’s leadoff single and Riley also homered in the first. Kelenic had a run-scoring single in the second, Ramón Laureano had an RBI double in the third and Olson hit a two-run homer in the fourth.

Riley was 2 for 3 with two walks and had 12 hits in his last 22 at-bats, including four homers and four doubles. Laureano had three doubles.

DJ LeMahieu drove in New York’s run with an RBI grounder in the second after Jahmai Jones’ windblown triple. The Yankees tied a season low with three hits. Coming from Triple-A, Yoendrys Gómez pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings and Phil Bickford had two outs in his Yankees debut.

TRAINERS ROOM

Braves: RHP Ian Anderson (Tommy John surgery April 12, 2023) made his first rehab appearance Tuesday for the Florida Complex League Braves, striking out four in two hitless innings. Anderson must make one more start in FCL before joining a higher minor league club, Snitker said. Anderson, 26, has not pitched in the big leagues since Aug. 13, 2022. … LHP AJ Minter (hip inflammation) started batting practice Wednesday and is expected to make an appearance in rehab in the leagues minors Saturday for High-A Rome.

Yankees: 2B Gleyber Torres had a negative MRI after leaving Thursday’s game in the fifth inning because of right groin tightness. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he would be available this weekend.