Carlos Rodón struggles in Yankees’ loss to Braves

NEW YORK — The Yankees believed that Gerrit Cole’s return from the injured list would solve any remaining concerns about their rotation, as an example of the rich getting richer. This week has not played out that way, as Carlos Rodón’s early exit sent the Bombers to their second lopsided defeat in as many days.

Rodón was hit hard and often, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings as the Yankees were trounced by the Braves, 8-1, on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium. New York has lost five of its past six games.

Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Matt Olson all homered off Rodón, who walked two and struck out three in a 93-pitch effort (56 strikes). Atlanta seemed primed to pounce; Jarred Kelenic laced the lefty’s first pitch for a single, Albies homered to the left-field seats on the second and the Braves were off and rolling. Albies and Riley homered off heaters, Olson on a slider.

The ugly outing followed a similarly rough effort that saw Luis Gil yanked in the second inning against the Orioles on Thursday. With Baltimore scoring in each of the final five innings on Thursday and Atlanta scoring in the first four on Friday, the Yankees tied a club record for runs allowed in consecutive innings (nine), last done on June 16-18, 1940.

Outpitched by Chris Sale, who held the Yanks to a run and one hit over five innings, Rodón lost his second straight start. Rodón snapped a seven-start winning streak last time out on June 15 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park; including that contest, Rodón has permitted 13 runs (12 earned) over his past 8 2/3 innings.

The Yankees have been busy reshaping their taxed bullpen this week, having had to cover 17 1/3 innings of relief work since Cole was limited to four innings on Wednesday. Yoendrys Gómez, added to the roster earlier Friday, tossed 4 2/3 scoreless frames behind Rodón.