WASHINGTON — PitchCom is supposed to speed up the pace of play, but on Wednesday, it just gave Carlos Rodon an extra headache.
After the Yankees left-hander got off to a rocky start against the Nationals, allowing a leadoff home run and then putting runners on the corners with no outs, he tried to step off the rubber after an apparent issue with his PitchCom device.
But in the process, Rodon was called for a balk by home plate umpire Tony Randazzo, allowing James Wood to score from third base.
Rodon was ticked off by the call, getting animated while trying to plead his case — which was seemingly that his PitchCom device was not working and that’s what led him to step off the rubber — as manager Aaron Boone hopped out of the dugout to make sure his starting pitcher did not get tossed.
Play eventually resumed but Rodon’s PitchCom issues persisted, even after trying a new device, which finally forced catcher Austin Wells to start using hand signs.
Rodon’s rough first inning began with Dylan Crews’ first career home run on a ball that kept carrying to left field in the 98-degree night.
Wood then singled, stole second base and took third on a wild pitch before Rodon walked Andres Chaparro leading into the balk.
But Rodon finally settled in, retiring the next three batters to keep the deficit to two runs.
But he allowed two more runs in the third inning as the Yankees trailed 4-1 with the game in the third inning.
