The much-anticipated series between archrivals New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox commenced on Friday. Amid talks of the rivalry losing its charm, both teams produced an absolutely thrilling opening game. While the Bronx Bombers ended up on the losing side, Gerrit Cole remained the silver lining for the home team.
Gerrit Cole, known for his electric stuff and ability to dominate opposing lineups, showcased his talent once again during the game against the Red Sox. He delivered a strong outing and kept the opposing hitters at bay. However, a late explosion from the bullpen and batters’ awful at-bats washed the ace’s efforts down the drain.
Yankees Lose 2-3 To Red Sox Despite Strong Start From Gerrit Cole
The New York Yankees faced a disappointing loss to their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, in a game where their ace pitcher, Gerrit Cole, delivered a strong performance on the mound. In six innings, the ace gave away two runs and struck out six hitters in the process. The stage was set for the bullpen to close things and the hitters to score just an extra run and claim a victory. However, things went downhill as soon as Cole left the field. Albert Abreu gave away a crucial run as Red Sox took the lead. Yet, in the ninth inning, a perfect opportunity developed for rookie Anthony Volpe.
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 10, 2023
With two outs, Billy McKinney and Gleyber Torres drove off singles to secure the first two bases. Anthony Volpe had to connect at least a double to level the scores. Instead, the rookie slammed the hit into the crowd. However, it missed crossing the foul line by the barest of margins, and the shortstop and the Yankees were denied a well-deserved home run. Once again, the Bombers’ offense has begun to fall out in the absence of its captain, Aaron Judge. While Judge remains the most important part of the lineup, it is also important to remember that baseball is a team sport. The Yankees cannot stay over-dependent on Judge for too long.
Rafael Devers Continues To Haunt Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole might be the Yankees ace and one of the best pitchers in the league. But the one-hitter who never fails to give him nightmares is Red Sox baseman, Rafael Devers. He has an average of over .250 against the pitcher. Just last season, Cole mentioned that he does not understand what Devers’s deal is. He hardly misses anything, and it’s getting almost impossible to get him out. Cole even asked the media for suggestions and input.
A year later, Rafael Devers continues to target Gerrit Cole. He hit him for a home run on Friday to earn his team a comforting 2-0 lead. Cole once again praised Devers for his temperament and claimed that, to date, he has been unable to figure him out. He tried to execute his pitches to perfection. Yet, Rafael found a way to tackle them with ease. Seems like Cole finally has some competition in the league.