Jameson Taillon defends Gerrit Cole after dominant bounce-back performance

Amanda Paula
Saturday September 21, 2024

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Gerrit Cole delivered a commanding nine-inning performance on Friday night, helping the New York Yankees secure a 4-2 extra-innings win against the Oakland Athletics. Cole’s standout outing came at a crucial time for the Yankees, as they inch closer to clinching the AL East. His performance followed a week of criticism stemming from his previous start against the Boston Red Sox.

One person who wasn’t shy about defending the Yankees ace was his former teammate, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon.

Taillon defends Gerrit Cole after criticism

Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole stand side by side wearing their Team USA uniforms during an international competition
Fansided

Taillon, who played alongside Gerrit Cole in both Pittsburgh and New York, took to social media to voice his support after Cole’s tough start against Boston. The Yankees’ ace had received backlash for walking Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers in a key moment, which led to a seven-run inning and a frustrating loss. Taillon, however, urged fans to take a broader view of Cole’s contributions.

“A lot of people had bad opinions on Gerrit Cole over the last week! The man deserves respect. He goes out and pitches nine innings,” Taillon tweeted after Cole’s dominant showing in Oakland.

Taillon’s defense of Gerrit Cole didn’t stop there. In a follow-up message, Taillon called Cole a “first-ballot Hall of Fame teammate” and dismissed the criticism as an overreaction to a single moment in an otherwise stellar career.

“Just funny to me… the guy is a first-ballot Hall of Fame teammate and obviously a Hall of Fame player. People form opinions over one moment of one outing,” Taillon wrote.

Cole’s performance against the Athletics

On Sept 20, 2024, Gerrit Cole, Yankees ace, delivers a dominant nine-inning performance against the Oakland Athletics, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out seven, leading the Yankees to a 4-2 extra-innings victory
ESPN

In that game, Gerrit Cole allowed just one run on two hits, striking out seven batters while walking only one. His lone setback came in the fourth inning when the Athletics briefly took a 1-0 lead on two singles and a stolen base. However, Cole rebounded, retiring the next 13 batters he faced and keeping the Yankees in position to win the game in extra innings.

Gerrit Cole’s dominant outing in Oakland was a timely reminder of his ability to perform under pressure. His performance helped the Yankees extend their lead in the AL East, with their magic number to clinch the division now down to five. The Yankees scored three runs in the 10th inning, thanks to contributions from Jasson Dominguez, Juan Soto, and Anthony Volpe, to secure the victory.

As the Yankees approach the final stretch of the regular season, Gerrit Cole’s rebound, combined with the vocal support from former teammates like Taillon, reinforces his status as one of the game’s top pitchers. With the postseason on the horizon, Cole’s performance signals that he remains a crucial asset for New York’s championship aspirations.

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