Carlos Rodón and Tommy Kahnle visibly showed the struggles of the New York Yankees.
Rodón sarcastically blew a kiss as he walked to the dugout after the second inning and Kahnle took out his frustrations on a cooling fan in the dugout on Wednesday during the Yankees’ 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
The loss marked the first time in 14 years that New York was swept in a three-game series by the Angels, the Yankees completed a 1-5 trip that saw them fall to last place in the AL East. They have lost four in a row and nine of 11.
Manager Aaron Boone admitted, “We stink right now.”
“We’re not very good right now. We understand that and this is definitely a low point for us,” he said. “So recognizing that we’re not in a good place as a team right now and we’re not playing close to the ball, we’ve got to be able to play to put ourselves in a good position at the end of the season.”
After giving up a pair of two-run homers and four runs in the first two innings, Rodón blew a kiss to the fans who were booing him as he approached the dugout.
Rodón has a 7.36 ERA in his first three starts after signing a six-year, $162 million contract, his season slowed by a forearm injury in spring training and then trouble on his back during his rehabilitation.
Rodón said he didn’t hear what the fans were saying, but he understood their frustrations.
“A fan was angry as he should be. I’m angry too. I was mad at myself and I kissed myself unfortunately,” said Rodon, who allowed six runs, four hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings. “It was the best reaction I could give. Better not to react. I suppose.”
Boone said he understands Rodón’s frustration, but kissing was better than doing something worse.
“When you’re in the arena and you’re going through that, sometimes you do things that you don’t necessarily want to be a part of,” Boone said. “Hopefully we’ll learn from it and move on, but I think it was better than getting into a shouting match or doing something we’re going to regret.”
Kahnle, who didn’t allow a run in his first 16 appearances this season and 21 straight outings last season, has given up a run in each of his last three.
In the eighth inning, he walked two and allowed a ground-rule RBI double to Taylor Ward, which gave the Angels more breathing room.
Kahnle walked slowly back to the dugout. After having his glove checked by an umpire, he walked into the dugout and threw his glove at a ground fan, who was standing up. Then he stomped on it twice.
“Everyone is different. I used to throw the helmet sometimes, break or get angry. It’s not for everybody,” Boone said. “Be authentic. I know we all care a lot. And sometimes in this game, when you get beat up a little bit and you take lumps, it comes out in certain ways.”
However, the biggest frustrations may be with the offense.
New York struck out 42 times during the Angels streak, one shy of a team record in a three-game streak. Sean Casey was brought in as hitting coach, but the Yankees hit .171 during the trip.
“We’re not showing a lot of signs of life or stringing anything together,” said Anthony Volpe, who has just four hits in his last 39 at-bats. “The game will be the game. The more consistency we can get pitching and AB, I feel like the results will start coming.”
While the Yankees (50-47) are nine games out of the lead in the AL East, they are just 3 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot. They are 15-22 since Aaron Judge was injured on June 3rd.
Boone hoped Thursday’s day off could help the team recalibrate ahead of a three-game series against Kansas City.
“We have to come prepared to fight our (butt) off on Friday and believe that is the day we will turn it around. If not, let’s move on,” he said. “We’re not close to where we want to be, but understanding that and knowing that we’re capable and that we can change. We control history and this is up to us.
