Yankees ace Gerrit Cole struck out ten hitters in a Triple-A game on Friday night, possibly the penultimate hurdle before returning from an elbow injury and joining New York’s rotation for the first time this year.
“We have to make that decision within the next 24 to 48 hours. But it’s excellent effort tonight,” Cole told reporters. “I used all of the pitches effectively. I went to pretty much every spot. So it’s another positive step in the right path.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed only two hits and an unearned run in 4 1/3 innings for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Rochester, a Washington Nationals affiliate.
He pitched 46 of 70 pitches for strikes and did not walk anyone. In three minor league rehab outings, the six-time All-Star had 19 strikeouts and no walks in 12 1/3 innings.
“I’ve just got to get the pitch count up,” Cole stated. “I mean, the team is performing well. It’s hardly the case where you come in and disturb the allocation of innings with your bullpen when everything is going so smoothly.”
Cole’s first two rehab outings were with Double-A Somerset. The right-hander might make his season debut for the major league-leading Yankees next Wednesday or Thursday at home against second-place Baltimore, or he could make another minor-league start.
“I’m hoping to get back very soon,” he remarked with a wide smile. “They’re such a great club right now. So, yeah, that’s part of the reason I’m just making sure I’m in a good position to support them.”
Cole, 33, made his first spring training start on March 1, but was later diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema and advised to rest. He started throwing bullpens on May 4 and made his first rehab start for Somerset on June 4th.
Cole allowed a double in the first inning Friday and an unearned run on a single in the fourth. He started by striking out the first, third, and fourth Rochester batters he faced.
He also struck out the side in the second, third, and fourth innings. He recorded his tenth strikeout in the fifth inning before being pulled.
Cole pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball for Somerset on Sunday, allowing two hits, four strikeouts, and one walk against Hartford. He retired his first eight batters. In that performance in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, he struck out 44 of 57 pitches.
Cole threw 45 pitches in 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Patriots on June 4.
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