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NEW YORK – After the big ovation, and all the things that made it seem like a personal Opening Night for Gerrit Cole, a familiar rhythm began to develop.
“At some point tonight,’’ Cole said Friday night, “it felt like I’d never left.’’
Some 19 months after his last big-league start, having rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, Cole said that pitching against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays seemed “almost like a second debut’’ in the majors.
“Nice to get back in the fire,’’ said Cole, who tossed six scoreless innings, exited with a one-run lead – then watched the relentless Rays mount another comeback win.
Taking their opening from a Jose Caballero fielding error, the Rays parlayed a four-run eighth inning into a 4-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, where they opened a 5.5-game lead on the Yanks.
With their speed, daring, overall pitching and fundamental skill – led by a talent for putting the ball in play, and putting pressure on a defense – the Rays are now 4-0 against the Yanks in 2026.
Ending the game as the tying run, Aaron Judge's 106.6-mph, 396-foot drive was caught at the center field warning track, leaving the Yanks' captain with one hit in his last 24 at-bats and without an RBI since May 10.
But with 11 hits on the night, "we didn't have much to show for it,'' said Boone, nevertheless "encouraged by what I saw'' from his team's at-bats Friday.
Already, it seems like a version of the 2025 Blue Jays, who won a divisional tiebreaker against the Yanks, dominated them in the regular season and beat them in a playoff series.
Starting pitching has been a signature Yankee strength this season, even as they waited for Cole and Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery) to arrive back, and with lefty ace Max Fried currently sidelined with a bone bruise to his pitching elbow.
But the presence of Cole every five days can only boost the clubhouse vibe, suggesting the Yankees will hit their stride.
“One of the best of the best out there. He looks really amazing,’’ said Caballero, who watched Cole navigate through some early trouble, then settle into a few fast, efficient innings – ending with a 1-2-3 sixth.
Cole was at 72 pitches when manager Aaron Boone called it a night, with the Yanks up 1-0.
“I felt like that was the smart play,’’ said Cole, who’d tossed 86 pitches in his final minor league rehab start.
Relying mainly on a four-seam fastball, along with sinkers and sliders and the occasional changeup and curve, Cole allowed just two singles and three walks, with two strikeouts.
For someone who was “carrying a lot of emotions out there,’’ Boone thought Cole “was on point’’ against the aggressive-swinging Rays.
“Just thought he did a lot of things really well tonight,’’ including a first-inning pickoff of the insanely speedy Chandler Simpson at second base, worked with Caballero.
“It was lovely. A little bit like riding a bike,’’ Cole said of his return, 569 days after his last start, in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. “Let it rip down the range and see what we’ve got.’’
“Let’s go sling the rock around,’’ catcher Austin Wells told Cole before the game, and then Wells finally launched one out of the park – the only run against Rays’ veteran righty Nick Martinez, having a terrific rebound season.
“Just got a pitch in the middle that I got a good swing on,’’ said Wells, who was 5-for-46 (.109) in May before that at-bat, and without a homer or an RBI since April 28.
“Got a lot more work to do.’’
Cole talked about getting back into the workaday rhythm of pitching every fifth day, preparing for his next start Wednesday at Kansas City.
“A good step forward,’’ Cole said of Friday. “Looking forward to the next.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ace Gerrit Cole "on point'' in '26 debut, but Yankees can't solve Rays
Continue reading...
“At some point tonight,’’ Cole said Friday night, “it felt like I’d never left.’’
Some 19 months after his last big-league start, having rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, Cole said that pitching against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays seemed “almost like a second debut’’ in the majors.
“Nice to get back in the fire,’’ said Cole, who tossed six scoreless innings, exited with a one-run lead – then watched the relentless Rays mount another comeback win.
Taking their opening from a Jose Caballero fielding error, the Rays parlayed a four-run eighth inning into a 4-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, where they opened a 5.5-game lead on the Yanks.
With their speed, daring, overall pitching and fundamental skill – led by a talent for putting the ball in play, and putting pressure on a defense – the Rays are now 4-0 against the Yanks in 2026.
Ending the game as the tying run, Aaron Judge's 106.6-mph, 396-foot drive was caught at the center field warning track, leaving the Yanks' captain with one hit in his last 24 at-bats and without an RBI since May 10.
But with 11 hits on the night, "we didn't have much to show for it,'' said Boone, nevertheless "encouraged by what I saw'' from his team's at-bats Friday.
Already, it seems like a version of the 2025 Blue Jays, who won a divisional tiebreaker against the Yanks, dominated them in the regular season and beat them in a playoff series.
Starting pitching has been a signature Yankee strength this season, even as they waited for Cole and Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery) to arrive back, and with lefty ace Max Fried currently sidelined with a bone bruise to his pitching elbow.
But the presence of Cole every five days can only boost the clubhouse vibe, suggesting the Yankees will hit their stride.
“One of the best of the best out there. He looks really amazing,’’ said Caballero, who watched Cole navigate through some early trouble, then settle into a few fast, efficient innings – ending with a 1-2-3 sixth.
Cole was at 72 pitches when manager Aaron Boone called it a night, with the Yanks up 1-0.
“I felt like that was the smart play,’’ said Cole, who’d tossed 86 pitches in his final minor league rehab start.
Relying mainly on a four-seam fastball, along with sinkers and sliders and the occasional changeup and curve, Cole allowed just two singles and three walks, with two strikeouts.
For someone who was “carrying a lot of emotions out there,’’ Boone thought Cole “was on point’’ against the aggressive-swinging Rays.
“Just thought he did a lot of things really well tonight,’’ including a first-inning pickoff of the insanely speedy Chandler Simpson at second base, worked with Caballero.
“It was lovely. A little bit like riding a bike,’’ Cole said of his return, 569 days after his last start, in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. “Let it rip down the range and see what we’ve got.’’
“Let’s go sling the rock around,’’ catcher Austin Wells told Cole before the game, and then Wells finally launched one out of the park – the only run against Rays’ veteran righty Nick Martinez, having a terrific rebound season.
“Just got a pitch in the middle that I got a good swing on,’’ said Wells, who was 5-for-46 (.109) in May before that at-bat, and without a homer or an RBI since April 28.
“Got a lot more work to do.’’
Cole talked about getting back into the workaday rhythm of pitching every fifth day, preparing for his next start Wednesday at Kansas City.
“A good step forward,’’ Cole said of Friday. “Looking forward to the next.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ace Gerrit Cole "on point'' in '26 debut, but Yankees can't solve Rays
Continue reading...
