Carlos Rodón looked like a postseason pitcher on Friday night — and just in time.
The lefty, who’s been bothered by elbow issues this season, dominated against the Mets in possibly his best start of the year in a 6-4 win in The Bronx.
Rodón pitched a season-long 6 ¹/₃ innings and allowed two runs, only one earned, while striking out eight, also a season-best.
“I thought he threw the heck out of the ball,’’ Aaron Boone said.
Wearing an FDNY hat, as the Yankees commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Rodón called it “an honor to be able to pitch” on the emotional night.
While he hadn’t given up more than two runs since his return from elbow inflammation, Rodón had been unable to provide much length prior to Friday’s start.
As the Yankees look to fortify their October rotation, Rodón very much fit the part against a Mets lineup that’s hit better of late.
He was hurt by a leadoff walk to Mark Vientos in the second, as Vientos scored later in the inning- due in part to Spencer Jones’ fielding error in center.
But following Marcus Semien’s one-out single in that second inning that led to an unearned run, Rodón retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced before Carson Benge’s base hit ended his night with one out in the seventh.
Rodón was at 93 pitches and the Yankees haven’t let Rodón hit the 100 mark yet this season.
So Paul Blackburn entered and struggled and a run-scoring single by A.J. Ewing knocked in Benge for the only other run permitted by Rodón.
Still, the Yankees will take this kind of performance from Rodón, who didn’t make his season debut until May following offseason elbow surgery.
Rodón hit the IL again in late June and missed over a month, dealing with elbow inflammation.
Since his return, Rodón entered Friday having allowed just five earned runs in four starts, but he’d pitched just 17 ²/₃ innings.
His previous outing in San Diego had been Rodón’s most effective, as the left-hander struck out seven and gave up just one run and a pair of hits- but he walked three in five innings.
On Friday, Rodón allowed only one walk, and it was to Vientos.
“He had better strike-throwing,’’ Boone said of Friday’s start. “He’s been really effective [and] really limiting hits, but walks have hurt him and his ability to get deep in games.”
If Friday was any indication, Rodón could be moving past that and as long as he stays healthy, should be a key factor down the stretch and into the playoffs.
“He’s been in a good place throughout the year when he’s healthy,’’ Boone said.
