Am Football / yanks

OAKLAND — Gerrit Cole delivered a masterclass on the mound Friday night, shrugging off recent controversy to propel the Yankees to a 4-2, 10-inning victory over the Athletics at the Coliseum. No interruptions, no walks, just a dominating display that suggests New York’s ace is sharpening up for October. In a marked response to his previous outing’s setback, where an intentional walk unraveled his performance, Cole pitched nine stellar innings—his best of the season. The Yankees’ extra-inning win was driven by Cole’s command, mixing efficiency with dominance. "You don't want to overcorrect either; you just want to pitch better," Cole thought. “It’s about finding that balance. I was excited for this one, knowing I had a chance to contribute something positive.” Mark Your Calendars for Sept. 25: Jeter Last Hit Bobblehead Night at Yankee Stadium The Yankees clinched the game’s pivotal run in the 10th inning when a passed ball slipped past catcher Shea Langeliers, allowing Jasson Domínguez to sprint home. The moment was tense—Juan Soto scratched from the lineup earlier due to knee swelling, emerged as a pinch hitter, clutching his bat. Soto, despite being limited by his injury, roped a crucial double to deep left off T.J. McFarland, driving in a run before making way for a pinch-runner. Anthony Volpe followed with an RBI single—his third hit of the night—adding extra insurance. Luke Weaver secured the win, recording his third save. With this victory, the Yankees maintained their four-game lead over the Orioles in the American League East, with only eight games remaining. Cole’s 99-pitch gem was central to the win. “Just a phenomenal performance,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Going nine innings with that kind of pitch efficiency—it’s impressive. When our offense was having trouble, he kept us in the game and gave us the opportunity to win. In his previous outing against the Red Sox, Cole had taken a controversial approach, issuing an intentional walk to Rafael Devers while on the cusp of a no-hitter. The move backfired, leading to a season-high seven runs allowed. This time, however, Cole silenced any critics by limiting the A’s to just one run on two hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts. “It was a combination of their aggression and executing good pitches early in the count,” Cole explained. “They hit some balls hard, but they were well-placed. We funneled the plays to our defense—Gleyber [Torres] made some tough outs look easy. We converted every opportunity.” Catcher Austin Wells praised Cole’s versatility: “He mixed all his pitches beautifully tonight. It's rare to see pitchers go nine innings these days, so that was noteworthy. This was the first time all season that Cole reached the seventh inning, and he pushed further still. Cole even lobbied Boone to pitch the 10th inning, though the manager promptly denied that request. “I didn’t feel fatigued at all, which is a great sign,” Cole noted. “I had more left in the tank. That helped us stay sharp deep into the game. I hadn’t pitched into the seventh, eighth, or ninth this season, so it felt incredible to see it all come together.” It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Sidelined during Spring Training with elbow inflammation, Cole didn’t make his season debut until mid-June. His performances have varied, as he admitted: “There have been some really strong games, but a few rough ones as well.” Despite the setbacks, the silver lining for Cole is that his arm feels fresher than it might have had he made 33 starts, as he did last season when he led the AL with 209 innings pitched. That could spell trouble for opposing teams come playoff time, and bode well for the Yankees’ postseason ambitions. “I’d much rather have 212 innings by now,” Cole said. Being a part of the league since April is a huge experience. But all things considered, I think we’re in a great position right now. The confidence is there, and we’re ready to keep pushing forward.” Watch Video