After a dominant performance in the first game of their three-game series against the Washington Nationals, the Yankees offense faltered on Tuesday against one of the league’s worst starters, Patrick Corbin, losing 4-2.

Corbin silences Yankees thugs

Corbin, who entered the game with a 5.73 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings, throwing 104 pitches with 64 strikes. He struck out six batters and allowed just two hits, stopping a Yankees offense that had been red-hot in recent games.

Although the Yankees managed eight hits and seven strikeouts as a team, they struggled to score runs. Their limited performance resulted from an Aaron Judge double play that scored a run and an Anthony Volpe groundout to shortstop in the ninth inning that brought home Jazz Chisholm. The Yankees left several runners on base and failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.

Cole’s problems on the hill

Gerrit Cole, normally reliable, had a rough outing. He pitched five innings, allowed six hits and allowed three earned runs while recording seven strikeouts. Cole also gave up two home runs, threw 91 pitches with 56 strikeouts. Despite his recent strong performances with a 3.86 ERA, Cole will look to rebound after this rough start against a sluggish Washington offense. The bullpen was a bright spot, however, as it threw three innings without allowing an earned run.

Poor defense and missed opportunities

Offensively, the Yankees couldn’t find their rhythm and their power hitters remained silent. The defense also had a rough night and the infield had significant problems. The overall performance was below average, so the Yankees had to regroup.

Looking ahead: Rodon enters the hill

The Yankees have another opportunity to rebound on Wednesday night when Carlos Rodon faces MacKenzie Gore, who has posted a 4.51 ERA in 131.2 innings pitched this season. Rodon, who currently has a 4.16 ERA, went six innings scoreless against the Colorado Rockies last week and will look to build on that positive outing.