Carlos Rodons ongoing command issues spoil his Yankees injury return: Just got to be better

MILWAUKEE — Back in the spring, when he was still in the midst of his rehab from October elbow surgery, Carlos Rodón acknowledged that his command was a work in progress with a newfound range of motion in his left arm.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

After his season debut Sunday, it appears that work remains ongoing.Rodón issued five walks, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch across 4 ¹/₃ innings, spoiling his first start of the season in what became a 4-3 loss to the Brewers, who swept three games from the Yankees at American Family Field.“Definitely was hyped up a little bit,” said Rodón, who struck out four, three on sliders.“Obviously need to be better in the aspect of attacking the zone and getting ahead quick.

Some stuff to work on.”The left-hander, who underwent surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow, threw 42 of his 78 pitches for strikes.Of his five walks, three came leading off an inning, and while he was able to work around the first two, the problem finally came back to haunt him in the fourth inning.Rodón threw eight straight balls to begin the frame, then two pitches later misfired a 95 mph fastball that hit Andrew Vaughn on the left shoulder to load the bases.Two outs later, including a sacrifice fly that cut the Yankees lead to 2-1, Rodón sprayed a slider that got past J.C.

Escarra to the backstop, allowing the runners to move up to second and third.That proved costly when former Yankees farmhand Blake Perkins roped a single to center field, scoring both runners for the 3-2 Brewers lead.“None of that happens if I get ahead and get guys out,” said Rodón, who was not entirely sure why he struggled with his command.

“Just a little quick in the delivery, a little forward as I’m releasing the ball, so trying to make the adjustment and pour it in [the strike zone].Obviously that d...