Carlos Rodon finds way to keep Mets in check in hard-fought outing

As all eyes were on Juan Soto throughout Friday’s 6-2 win by the Yankees, it was Carlos Rodón who did what he could to keep the Mets in check.And Rodón did just that, even if it wasn’t all that pretty.The lefty didn’t have his best command, as he matched a season high with four walks, but three of those were to Soto.“I was trying to get him to swing and miss every time,’’ Rodón said of his approach against his former teammate.“As he always is, he was real patient.

He knows the zone and gets out of there with three walks.I wanted to get him, but he got me.”Despite that, Rodón pitched well enough to limit the Mets to one run and put the Yankees in position to get a win in The Bronx.At times during his tenure with the Yankees, this was not a night in which Rodón would have ended up being as effective as he was Friday — something he’s gotten better at since arriving in The Bronx.“There are days you’ve got to figure out how to get outs when everything’s not on,’’ Rodón said.

“Today was one of those days.You’ve got to go out and compete.

It’s part of the job.”Rodón didn’t allow a hit until Mark Vientos’ flare single to center with one out in the fourth, when he also allowed his lone run over five innings.The 33-pitch inning included a leadoff walk to Soto, although Rodón challenged him both in the fourth and fifth inning.He finished the frame by getting Luisangel Acuña to fly out to right with the bases loaded.For Rodón, it was an encouraging outing after he allowed four runs in six innings in a loss to the A’s in his previous start.After compiling an ERA of 5.48 in his first four outings of the season, Rodón has a 1.72 ERA in his last six starts.And in allowing just a pair of singles on Friday, Rodón has remained one of the toughest pitchers to actually get a hit against.He’s limited opposing lineups to four hits or fewer nine times this season, the most in the majors.But the walks he issued forced Rodón to t...