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NEW YORK – In the World Series, this would be the stuff of Dodgers-Yankees winterlong debate.
But in mid-July, the choice to give Gerrit Cole one more batter – resulting in a go-ahead, Max Muncy home run – is a Friday night story, and maybe something to store for later.
Three times after the Dodgers’ 2-1 win at the Stadium, Yanks manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s on me,’’ regretting going against his initial instinct.
Instead of inserting a ready Brent Headrick to face Muncy for a lefty-lefty matchup in the seventh, with the tying run on first base, Boone rode with Cole.
Essentially, Boone asked: "Do you have one more in you?'' And Cole replied: "Yeah.''
The sold-out Stadium crowd appreciated that decision, and Cole not only got ahead of Muncy, but threw an 0-2 slider that – if it had been ABS challenged by catcher Austin Wells – might have been strike three.
Cole winced at the memory, but “I feel like I can always make another pitch,’’ said the Yanks’ ace, adding that it was on him to execute, too.
“I just didn’t make two or three pitches that inning, and it cost us,’’ starting with a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts.
Coming off losing three straight games to Arizona before the All-Star break, the Dodgers handed the Yanks an unearned run in the fourth.
But the Yanks lost a chance to tie it in the eighth, when Trent Grisham was thrown out trying to score from first base on Ben Rice’s double off the right-center field wall against lefty reliever Alex Vesia.
Grisham appeared to slow as he neared second base, but he didn’t think so. Nor did Grisham believe he slowed up near third base, where coach Luis Rojas waved him home.
Boone thought Grisham’s initial hesitation was to make sure the ball was in the gap, but Grisham suggested he read it accurately.
Center fielder Andy Pages’ relay to shortstop Mookie Betts forced Betts to make an off-balance throw on the run.
Because of the difficulty of that play, Boone said he “didn’t have an issue’’ with Rojas’ send, with Paul Goldschmidt on deck.
Meanwhile, the Rays still own a 2.5-game AL East lead on the Yanks, after Tampa Bay was swept in a doubleheader Friday at Boston - with the Red Sox on an 11-game winning streak.
Grisham has dealt with hamstring issues the last two seasons, including an IL stint earlier this year.
“I’m conscious of my hammy, coming back from it,’’ said Grisham. “But I had a good rehab, went well. Feel good now.’’
In a broader view, Cole’s first six shutout innings, with eight strikeouts, was another good sign in his 10th start back from Tommy John surgery rehab.
Cole threw a season high 103 pitches and kept Shohei Ohtani (0-for-4, two warning track drives) in the ballpark, in a battle against the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki.
And the 46,450 fans might’ve flashed back to Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, when Boone pulled Cole after 88 pitches (with Muncy due up), also with a one-run lead in the seventh inning.
Things would eventually unravel, ending with Freddie Freeman’s 10th-inning grand slam.
Days later, the fifth inning of Game 5 at Yankee Stadium became a case study for how quickly a Series game could fall apart, and the Dodgers were soon celebrating a title on Bronx turf.
Here, Cole “figured that (Boone) was going to give me a conversation,’’ and not the hook after Betts, his only walk of the night.
“It’s nice to push the stamina, get back out there for an extra hitter and keep going for it, keep competing,’’ said Cole. “That’s a great learning opportunity, physically.’’
Plus, “it’s not over until it’s over,’’ said Cole, channeling his inner Yogi. “You’ve got to keep making pitches, especially against a great team like the Dodgers.’’
Cole’s fastball had “life to it all night,’’ said Boone, as encouraged by the ace’s stuff as he was tortured by not raising his left hand on his way to the mound.
“In hindsight, I probably should’ve grabbed him there,’’ Boone said. “I had Headrick teed up…that’s on me. Even though I felt (Cole) was in a good place and threw the ball great tonight.
“Sometimes, you’ve got to take it out of their hands.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: One pitch, one big regret as Yankees, Gerrit Cole fall to Dodgers
Continue reading...
But in mid-July, the choice to give Gerrit Cole one more batter – resulting in a go-ahead, Max Muncy home run – is a Friday night story, and maybe something to store for later.
Three times after the Dodgers’ 2-1 win at the Stadium, Yanks manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s on me,’’ regretting going against his initial instinct.
Instead of inserting a ready Brent Headrick to face Muncy for a lefty-lefty matchup in the seventh, with the tying run on first base, Boone rode with Cole.
Essentially, Boone asked: "Do you have one more in you?'' And Cole replied: "Yeah.''
The sold-out Stadium crowd appreciated that decision, and Cole not only got ahead of Muncy, but threw an 0-2 slider that – if it had been ABS challenged by catcher Austin Wells – might have been strike three.
Cole winced at the memory, but “I feel like I can always make another pitch,’’ said the Yanks’ ace, adding that it was on him to execute, too.
“I just didn’t make two or three pitches that inning, and it cost us,’’ starting with a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts.
Another missed opportunity
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Coming off losing three straight games to Arizona before the All-Star break, the Dodgers handed the Yanks an unearned run in the fourth.
But the Yanks lost a chance to tie it in the eighth, when Trent Grisham was thrown out trying to score from first base on Ben Rice’s double off the right-center field wall against lefty reliever Alex Vesia.
Grisham appeared to slow as he neared second base, but he didn’t think so. Nor did Grisham believe he slowed up near third base, where coach Luis Rojas waved him home.
Boone thought Grisham’s initial hesitation was to make sure the ball was in the gap, but Grisham suggested he read it accurately.
Center fielder Andy Pages’ relay to shortstop Mookie Betts forced Betts to make an off-balance throw on the run.
Because of the difficulty of that play, Boone said he “didn’t have an issue’’ with Rojas’ send, with Paul Goldschmidt on deck.
Meanwhile, the Rays still own a 2.5-game AL East lead on the Yanks, after Tampa Bay was swept in a doubleheader Friday at Boston - with the Red Sox on an 11-game winning streak.
Grisham has dealt with hamstring issues the last two seasons, including an IL stint earlier this year.
“I’m conscious of my hammy, coming back from it,’’ said Grisham. “But I had a good rehab, went well. Feel good now.’’
Flashback to 2024 Series
You must be registered for see images attach
In a broader view, Cole’s first six shutout innings, with eight strikeouts, was another good sign in his 10th start back from Tommy John surgery rehab.
Cole threw a season high 103 pitches and kept Shohei Ohtani (0-for-4, two warning track drives) in the ballpark, in a battle against the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki.
And the 46,450 fans might’ve flashed back to Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, when Boone pulled Cole after 88 pitches (with Muncy due up), also with a one-run lead in the seventh inning.
Things would eventually unravel, ending with Freddie Freeman’s 10th-inning grand slam.
Days later, the fifth inning of Game 5 at Yankee Stadium became a case study for how quickly a Series game could fall apart, and the Dodgers were soon celebrating a title on Bronx turf.
Here, Cole “figured that (Boone) was going to give me a conversation,’’ and not the hook after Betts, his only walk of the night.
“It’s nice to push the stamina, get back out there for an extra hitter and keep going for it, keep competing,’’ said Cole. “That’s a great learning opportunity, physically.’’
Plus, “it’s not over until it’s over,’’ said Cole, channeling his inner Yogi. “You’ve got to keep making pitches, especially against a great team like the Dodgers.’’
Cole’s fastball had “life to it all night,’’ said Boone, as encouraged by the ace’s stuff as he was tortured by not raising his left hand on his way to the mound.
“In hindsight, I probably should’ve grabbed him there,’’ Boone said. “I had Headrick teed up…that’s on me. Even though I felt (Cole) was in a good place and threw the ball great tonight.
“Sometimes, you’ve got to take it out of their hands.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: One pitch, one big regret as Yankees, Gerrit Cole fall to Dodgers
Continue reading...
