Yankees double up Rangers as Torres, Stanton power 'Gleyber Day' victory
September 3rd, 2024
Drew Davison
ARLINGTON -- Yankees starter Gerrit Cole wasn’t “super concerned” when he felt a cramp in his right calf as he warmed up to pitch the seventh inning of Monday’s 8-4 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field. But he also didn’t think it was worth trying to pitch through, given the circ*mstances and New York leading 7-1 at the time.
"I just didn’t think it was the right situation to keep trying to manipulate it out there,” he said.
Instead, the veteran right-hander cut his night short after throwing six innings of one-run ball, with nine strikeouts and one walk. He retired the final nine batters he faced.
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Cole will continue to be monitored and reassessed on Tuesday, the Yankees announced. Cole didn’t seem overly concerned about the injury scare afterward, saying he experienced a similar cramp during a start against the Dodgers last season.
"I was able to kind of manage it for a couple innings until it was too much,” he said, reflecting back on the start at the Dodgers.
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Cole said he only felt the cramp Monday when he followed through on his pitching motion.
"I jogged out there, didn’t feel it,” said Cole, who missed the first 75 games of the season with right elbow inflammation.
"And I don’t feel it walking or moving around or anything," he added. "So, just for whatever reason, the follow through.”
Outside of the injury scare, Cole put together a terrific 82-pitch outing, matching his season high with six innings. He has allowed one or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts.
Cole described his fastball as “really good” on Monday -- and manager Aaron Boone agreed.
"I thought his fastball was really good, cutter was good tonight, spun the ball well,” Boone said. “I thought his stuff was really good tonight, starting with the heater."
Cole was on track to have his longest outing of the season until the cramping issue. He has yet to throw more than six innings this season.
While Cole’s night and early exit were the main storylines coming out of the game, the Yankees' offense shined too.
Leadoff man Gleyber Torres led the way with three hits and two RBIs, including a two-run double in the third inning. He also helped start a five-run rally in the sixth with a single.
"It’s just setting the tone, that’s the mentality I have [leading off],” said Torres, who has batted in the leadoff spot since Aug. 16. "I try to get a really good at-bat, see more pitches than normal and the other guys behind me can do their job. If I have a really good at-bat, get myself on base, I know somebody can drive me in, so that’s the plan right now.”
With a 2-1 lead going into the sixth, the Yankees sent all nine batters to the plate. Torres started the rally with an infield single, followed by a single from Juan Soto. Then Aaron Judge smoked a liner down the third-base line to score Torres and end Rangers starter Jack Leiter’s night.
The Yankees kept the hits coming against Rangers reliever Chase Anderson, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove in a run with a single and Anthony Rizzo picked up a bloop two-run double to left field. Chisholm raced home for the fifth run of the inning on a wild pitch by Anderson.
The Yankees scored one more run in the eighth on a solo home run by Giancarlo Stanton. It was the 25th home run of the season for Stanton, who now has 10 seasons with 25 or more home runs. That is the most among active players, ahead of the Angels’ Mike Trout (9).
"It’s pretty cool, something to add to whatever I can come up with in this career,” Stanton said. “But as long as it helps us win, that’s what’s most important right now.”
The Yankees are doing just that, especially on the road. They improved to 43-27 on the road, which is the best road record in the Majors.
"When we’re all clicking like that,” Stanton said, “It’s just fun to watch."
