New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s return from the injured list has been anything but smooth, and his latest outing against the New York Mets only added to his struggles.
During the second game of the Subway Series on Wednesday, Gerrit Cole was visibly frustrated after being chased out of the game in the sixth inning, having surrendered six earned runs.
Gerrit Cole expresses frustration in Yankees’ dugout
Since his return in mid-June, the 33-year-old pitcher has not been his dominant self, and his performance against the Mets, a team he’s historically struggled against, highlighted his ongoing woes. As he walked back to the clubhouse, some fans in the Bronx expressed their dissatisfaction with boos, but no one was harder on Gerrit Cole than himself. He stormed straight into the locker room before returning later, still visibly upset.
In the dugout, Gerrit Cole‘s frustration was evident as he slammed his arms against the bannister, clearly displeased with his efforts on the mound. His rough outing included giving up eight hits, six runs, and three home runs over 100 pitches. He walked one batter and struck out just three, causing his season ERA to balloon to an unsightly 5.40.
Two of Gerrit Cole’s seven starts this year have been against the Mets, and both have been his worst outings. In his first matchup against the in-state rivals, Cole failed to record a single strikeout while surrendering six earned runs, including four home runs. Wednesday’s performance mirrored his previous struggles, prompting his incandescent reaction in the dugout.
The game started promisingly for Cole, who retired the first eight Mets he faced. However, trouble began in the third inning when No. 9 hitter Tyrone Taylor hit a solo home run off a 2-2 fastball. In the fourth inning, Pete Alonso tagged Cole for a two-run homer, followed by Francisco Lindor’s two-run shot in the fifth, giving the Mets a 5-2 lead.
Gerrit Cole’s frustration was palpable on the mound, twice asking plate umpire Andy Fletcher for a new baseball while the one he just threw sailed over the wall. This was Gerrit Cole’s seventh start of the season after coming back from right elbow nerve irritation.
Despite his recent struggles, Gerrit Cole remains a critical piece of the Yankees’ rotation, and the team will be looking for him to regain his dominant form as they push towards the playoffs. However, Wednesday’s game against the Mets was a stark reminder of the challenges Cole faces in returning to his peak performance.
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