Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees ace, was scheduled to pitch a start in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against Cleveland Guardians. The game went on floors at the Yankee Stadium on Tuesday in front of a packed crowd. Cole has always thrived under blaring home support.
However, his previous AL Division Series was not up to the mark as per Gerrit Cole’s high standards. Moreover, the ace appeared to have a chip on his shoulder when he stepped on the mound on Tuesday to face the Guardians. The end result was a shaky outing that could have proved fatal for the New York Yankees.
Gerrit Cole Barely Lasts 5 Innings Vs Guardians In ALCS Game 2
Gerrit Cole’s postseason performances have been inconsistent so far. However, the New York Yankees have managed to find success despite his struggles. In Game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, Gerrit Cole didn’t have his best outing, lasting just 4.1 innings. He gave up six hits, walked four, and struck out four, throwing 89 pitches in a laborious effort. This marked his second-shortest postseason start, following a two-inning appearance in the 2021 Wild Card Game. Despite some shaky moments, Cole did manage to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, retiring pinch-hitter David Fry and striking out Brayan Rocchio on a backdoor slider.
However, he couldn’t get through the fifth inning, where four of the first five Guardians batters reached base. Reflecting on his performance, Gerrit Cole acknowledged his struggles with control. “I lost a little bit of the zone. They strung quality at-bats together and won some of those long battles,” Cole said. Though this start mirrored his shaky ALDS opener against the Royals, in which he allowed four runs in five innings, the Yankees bullpen came to the rescue once again. Clay Holmes, Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, and Luke Weaver combined for 4.2 innings of solid relief work, ensuring the Yankees held onto their lead. Overall, Gerrit Cole has been a mixed bag this October, dominant in the ALDS clincher but struggling in two other outings. While not as sharp as in past playoff runs, the overall pitching depth has kept them in control of the series.
Cole Registers Lowest Strikeout Rate In Playoffs
In Game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, Gerrit Cole posted a strike rate of just 59.6%, his lowest in any postseason start. Cole threw 89 pitches over 4.1 innings but struggled with his control, issuing four walks while allowing six hits. His inability to consistently find the strike zone contributed to an uneven outing.
Gerrit Cole himself acknowledged that he needed to “do better,” highlighting how Cleveland’s hitters worked quality at-bats, eventually putting pressure on him. This low strike rate reflects Cole’s overall struggles in this postseason, which has seen him alternate between dominant performances and more erratic outings. His previous postseason strike rates have been much higher, especially during his 2022 run.
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