Yankees prospect Elmer Rodriguez shows off electric arm in best outing of young career

Elmer Rodríguez stepped into a big Yankees moment and delivered the best outing of his young career.The Yankees called up Rodríguez, their No.3 prospect, to start Wednesday, and he provided them with a quality outing at a time when their injury-riddled pitching staff’s depth is being tested amid a two-front race in the standings.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.He tossed six innings and gave up three runs in the 9-3 win over the Astros in The Bronx, striking out six batters and walking just two.It was the 23-year-old’s fifth start — and first since June 21 — in the big leagues this year.

After four shaky starts — he entered Wednesday with a 4.76 ERA in 17 innings pitched — he returned and provided the Yankees with a needed lift.“That’s what we get excited about right there,” manager Aaron Boone said.“I think he got [the Astros’] attention right away — you’re seeing 97, 98, 99 [mph] sinkers filling up the zone, spinning a good breaking ball.

That was really encouraging, to see that.And to see him, it felt like, a little bit more settled, too.“That’s the electric arm that we know is in there.

I thought he threw the heck out of the ball.”Rodríguez came back out for the seventh inning but was pulled after walking Jose Altuve to start the frame.He left to loud applause from Yankees fans.His final line also would have looked a bit better if it weren’t for some rough fielding in the first inning, when Trent Grisham misplayed a fly ball to hand the Astros their first run.Rodríguez’s velocity was noticeably a few ticks higher Wednesday than it was across his first four starts.

And Wednesday was the deepest he’s pitched across his five starts — he had never gone further than 4 ²/₃ innings previously.“Just trusting myself,” Rodríguez said.“Something that I’ve been building up since my first couple of start...