Yankees’ Miami meltdown disheartens Judge, tests Cole’s patience

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With just seven more weeks to go, the Yankees are losing their steam. In Miami, they handed over an unbelievable win to the Marlins after blowing out a big lead in the ninth. The performance came as a surprise to fans on both sides while disappointing their two stalwarts Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole.

According to Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ recent defeat against the Miami Marlins was a bitter pill to swallow, ranking among the most disheartening losses of the season. The team watched their advantage slip through their fingers as a commanding six-run lead crumbled during a final inning that saw the Marlins score five runs, ultimately securing the series victory on their home turf.

A visibly disturbed Aaron Judge told:

“This one sucks right here, especially with the lead we had and the at-bats we had.”

Despite the Yankees’ batting lineup sizzling with consistent performance throughout the game, even receiving an initial boost from their esteemed starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, the closing duo of Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle faltered, leading to the unfortunate loss.

In a critical juncture with only one out left at LoanDepot Park, Holmes found himself on the mound facing a bases-loaded scenario, but the situation went awry, allowing three runs to cross the plate. Kahnle then entered the scene and, regrettably, added to the unfolding narrative by yielding the deciding runs to Jake Burger, sealing the Marlins’ triumph.

“Just kind of flush it and get back on the process,” Gerrit Cole said.

Gerrit Cole was not at his best

On Sunday, Gerrit Cole was not at his best. However, the top pitcher fought tenaciously instead of effortlessly overpowering, and his performance proved satisfactory on a day when the Yankees‘ relief pitchers weren’t up to par.

Gerrit Cole persevered until Clay Holmes faltered during a disastrous fifth inning. The Yankees ace delivered a steady performance, if not a dazzling one, achieving his 19th start of the season in which he conceded fewer than three runs, a feat that currently tops the majors.

In the pursuit of his inaugural Cy Young accolade, Gerrit Cole gave up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters across six innings—a commendable stretch, especially given his initial struggles. During the initial three innings, the Yankees ace allowed a lone inexpensive run and expended 59 pitches, falling short of the efficiency he aspired to achieve due to mishaps and lengthy at-bats.

Gerrit Cole mentioned that he sensed a tendency for them to extend the pitch count. The Yankees starter acknowledged his position as the leader in innings pitched in the AL (156 ¹/₃) and expressed some frustration regarding the two walks, noting that they contributed to an increase in the pitch count.

“I felt like they were working the pitch count a little bit,” said Cole. “I was pretty frustrated with the two walks. Kind of pushed the pitch count up a bit.”

Yankees ace stood ground

During the initial inning, it seemed as though Gerrit Cole was on the brink of escaping the situation unscathed through a potential double play; however, the throw from Gleyber Torres was mishandled by first baseman Jake Bauers.

Subsequently, it took Gerrit Cole a sequence of eight pitches to successfully strike out Bryan De La Cruz. Two innings later, a chance for concluding the inning with a double play went awry once again. Josh Bell managed a soft hit toward Gerrit Cole, who made a high throw to Anthony Volpe stationed at second base.

Although Volpe managed to secure the ball, his attempt to extract it from his glove led to a fumble, preventing the out at first base. In the very next at-bat, Luis Arraez executed a skillful RBI single to left field, enabling the Marlins to secure their initial run.

The muddled double-play attempt not only cost Gerrit Cole a run but also necessitated an additional five pitches.

Manager Aaron Boone remarked that he considered Gerrit Cole’s performance to be commendable and characterized it as a determined effort. He mentioned that the Yankees ace faced a considerable challenge, particularly in the initial innings, and noted that the starting pitching situation, including Clarke Schmidt and various uncertainties, posed a potential vulnerability due to its thinness. Boone also pointed out that the opposing team exerted significant pressure on Gerrit Cole during the early stages of the game.

“Thought Cole was good. Grinded,” manager Aaron Boone said. “They worked him pretty hard there in the first few innings.”

Gerrit Cole consistently navigated challenging situations, occasionally employing strategies that differed from his earlier approaches this year.

In the months of April and May, Gerrit Cole primarily relied on his fastball and slider to establish dominance. As the season has progressed, he has introduced variety into his pitch selection and started to incorporate a cutter that he had nearly disregarded.

In the sixth inning, with two runners on base, Gerrit Cole opted to utilize the cutter to secure a strikeout against De La Cruz. However, the sequence concluded with Jake Burger delivering an RBI single, which ultimately accounted for the last run attributed to him.

Gerrit Cole mentioned that the incorporation of the cutter has introduced an additional element of unpredictability to his pitching repertoire. He explained that it provides him with the capability to deter hitters from expecting the fastball or the slider, giving him the flexibility to control their approach to those pitches. Gerrit Cole made these comments after being taken out of the game following a pitch count of 99.

“Maybe when the season’s over, you can reflect on games like this,” Aaron Judge said. “But you’ve got to move forward. We’re facing a great team (Monday) and this (loss) is going to suck right here. Especially with the lead we had and the at-bats we had. But we’ve got to show up (Monday).”

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