Gerrit Cole gave the Yanks another fine outing, pitching shutout ball through 5 innings, and leaving in the 7th with a 3-2 lead. And Michael King was his old filthy self, pitching 2.2 innings of shutout ball to wrap it up.
The Yanks got 3 runs early off old friend Andrew Heaney — with back-to-back homers in the 2nd by DJ LeMahieu and a ROCKET SHOT to center by Gleyber Torres, then a further rally and RBI single by Anthony Volpe.
Jose Trevino added an insurance homer in the 9th for the 4-2 victory in Texas on a Thursday night.
Cole expressed the confidence he has when he starts: “It comes from my teammates; it comes from our preparation; and it comes from just being in a good spot to execute a lot of pitches,” said Cole afterwards. “Obviously the 3-spot there allows us to attack the zone. And we just play good baseball more often times than not. It’s something that you feed off of sometimes as a pitcher.”
NY improves to 15-11, still 6 games behind 21-5 Tampa and in 4th place (Baltimore and Toronto also won). Texas falls to 14-11 — in 1st place in their division.
1. Cole Goes to 5-0
Gerrit Cole entered the game with 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings, and he ran it to 25 consecutive scoreless innings until allowing 2 runs in the 6th.
Cole train came through 🚂 pic.twitter.com/tMIhLAtqKC
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
Cole allowed a hit in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (courtesy Aaron Hicks see below), but pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th and 5th before allowing leadoff singles to 2nd baseman Marcus Semien and leftfielder Robbie Grossman in the 6th. A walk to 1st baseman Nathaniel Lowe loaded the bases, but Cole struck out rightfielder Adolis Garcia and looked to get out of the inning with a double play grounder to 1st by DHÂ Jonah Heim.
But Cole — covering 1st — dropped the throw and the double play wasn’t made — the run scoring.
A slow hit grounder to 3rd by Ezequiel Duran went for a hit, scoring another run and making it 3-2 NY before Cole got the final out.
Cole got the first 2 outs of the 7th before being relieved by Michael King.
Cole’s line: 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 ER, 8 K’s, 1 walk. He is now 5-0 1.11 and a leading contender for Cy Young — an award he’s never won (finished 2nd twice).
2. Yanks Rally in 2nd Off Heaney
Yankee fans know that Andrew Heaney, when he is on his game, can shut down a lineup with his off speed pitches. And when he is not on his game, he can be hit.
The Yanks hit him in the 2nd — DJ LeMahieu led off with a 347-foot homer to right for a 1-0 NY lead.
Machine Mash 🦾 pic.twitter.com/ZMX62Ge3EO
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
Gleyber Torres followed with a ROCKET SHOT to center — a 443-foot homer.
Flexes in Texas 💪 pic.twitter.com/joRPm9jTf6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
The Yanks continued their rally: Oswaldo Peraza was hit by a pitch, and after a line out to center by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jose Trevino singled. Aaron Hicks walked, loading the bases with 1 out for Anthony Volpe, who singled to left for a run. NY 3 Texas 0.
Volpe knock 👊 pic.twitter.com/dARlpCHxUr
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
But Heaney got tough — striking out Aaron Judge and then Anthony Rizzo too — on a 3-2 pitch that was way low. Heaney got away with one.
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) April 28, 2023
3. Judge Leaves Game
After being struck out by Heaney — Judge left the game; it was revealed afterwards his hip didn’t feel right after the head-first dive of a slide the day before.
Aaron Judge: Just a little grab in the hip area. pic.twitter.com/L3aFvJ0Pmj
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 28, 2023
4. Hicks Muffs Another in Outfield
Yankee Twitter was howling when Aaron Hicks misplayed another ball in the outfield in the 3rd, not catching a tough-but-catchable ball — losing it in the lights. It went for a double for Semien but Cole stranded him by getting the next 2 outs.
Aaron Hicks makes Gerrit Cole mad pic.twitter.com/aSco0Xtc0y
— gabe (@PlayoffTanaka_) April 28, 2023
Hicks got a hit and a walk on the evening to make up for it.
5. Trevino Insurance HR
Jose Trevino added a big insurance homer with a shot to left in the top of the 9th, making it 4-2 NY.
Trevi Tater 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BTFSm9hBjI
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
6. King Filthy
Michael King relieved Cole in the bottom of the 7th and was his old filthy self — 2.1 innings of shutout ball — no hits, 1 walk, 2 striketouts. He pitched a 1-2-3 9th innings, striking out Leody Taveras for the old ballgame.
First save of the year for @7Kinger14 👑😉 pic.twitter.com/PvnXrh09fe
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 28, 2023
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