East Texas Pitcher Brings 100 MPH Heat in Victory Over Yankees

Friday night, Grayson Rodriguez gave the New York Yankees a lesson on how devastating the Texas heat can be...and they never had to set foot in the Lone Star state to experience it. While most of Texas has been sweltering under a daily blanket of 100+ degree heat, the pitcher from Central Heights, Texas gave the Bronx Bombers a serving of his brand of triple-digit heat.

Rodriguez served up a frequent dose of 100 mph missiles that resulted in the rookie's best Major League performance. Grayson went toe-to-toe and out-by-out against arguably the best pitcher in the Majors - Garritt Cole.

The tall Texan pitched into the 7th inning for the first time in his MLB career. Rodriguez allowed only 4 hits and held the Yankees scoreless. Cole also held the Baltimore Orioles at bay, but in the bottom of the ninth, a home run off the bat of Anthony Santander gave the Orioles the walk-off 1-0 victory.

Grayson has shown amazing resolve since being sent back to the Minor Leagues two months ago. He was named International League Pitcher of the Month in June, and his three starts since returning to the Majors have gone from good, to great, to superb.

In his three games since returning to the Big Leagues, Rodriguez has an earned run average of 3.18, in his last two games that ERA is a minuscule 1.50. Most importantly, Grayson is giving Baltimore another big piece of the puzzle to push them toward the playoffs and World Series. The Orioles are in first place in the American League East, by far the toughest division in baseball.

Rodriguez is scheduled to start again on Wednesday, August 2, when the Orioles are on the road to take on Toronto. The Blue Jays feature another East Texan on their roster, Brandon Belt.