In the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, Yankees’ Gerrit Cole turned in what may have been his most dominant performance of the season. The right-hander held the Texas Rangers to just one run over 5 1/3 innings while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the sixth inning, Cole was pulled from the mound after reaching his 90-pitch limit, a decision that did not sit well with some Yankees fans. Manager Aaron Boone’s move came as Cole, who was making his ninth start of the season following an early stint on the injured list for elbow inflammation, appeared to be in a groove.
The situation deteriorated quickly after Cole’s departure, as Luke Weaver took over and struggled to find his rhythm. Despite a strong season to date, posting a 2.81 ERA across 44 appearances with solid numbers among AL relievers, Weaver faltered, leading to a 9-4 Yankees loss after they had shut out the Rangers 8-0 in the first game.
Boone faced criticism from Yankees fans for both his timing in pulling Cole and his handling of the bullpen as the inning spiraled out of control. The decision to remove Cole was influenced by the team’s cautious approach, given that Cole had recently been sidelined from the start against the Phillies due to fatigue and illness.
The game’s turning point came in the sixth inning when Weaver allowed a string of singles to Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis Garcia, and Leody Tavares, setting off a disastrous chain of events that culminated in the Yankees’ defeat and a split of the doubleheader.
In a pivotal sequence that shifted the momentum, Luke Weaver’s performance on the mound unraveled, leading to a decisive inning for the Rangers. The Yankees reliever issued a bases-loaded walk to Carson Kelly, the Rangers’ ninth batter, on four straight pitches, allowing a run to cross the plate. The lead widened to 3-1 when Josh Smith sent a sharp line drive to right field for a sacrifice fly.
The situation escalated further when Corey Seager showcased his power, launching Weaver’s first-pitch fastball over the fence for his 25th home run of the season, pushing the Rangers’ advantage to 6-1.
Boone defends decision, Cole defends Yankees’ Weaver
Boone’s decision to pull Cole, while perhaps contentious, could be seen as a strategic choice. With Cole still ramping up after an early-season injury, the priority appears to be ensuring his peak performance for the critical stretch of the season, with the Yankees eyeing a postseason run deep into October.
“[We were] pretty strict to 90 today, with what he’s been through [starting the season on the IL and being skipped two starts ago because of general body fatigue],” the Yankees manager said. “We know how important he is to our staff and our rotation, so want to be smart with it. I think we’ll be in a good position to build from there and pick our spots where we back off a little bit. Today I thought was really encouraging. I thought he had a little bit of everything going.”
Reflecting on the outing, Weaver expressed his frustration, particularly with the bases-loaded walk, acknowledging it as a key mistake. The Yankees reliever also credited Seager’s prowess at the plate while recognizing the humbling nature of the game. Weaver expressed regret for not being able to preserve Gerrit Cole’s strong performance but emphasized the importance of bouncing back and focusing on future games.
“That was devastating for sure,’’ Weaver told after the game. “I think the biggest thing is the four-pitch walk. To Seager, I felt like I got the ball up and in, but just a really good hitter. Just one you write up and wish it went different, but this game just finds a way to humble you sometimes. And Gerrit did such a great job, so it hurts. You feel a little shellshocked from it, but you keep pushing forward knowing there’s another game tomorrow.”
Cole, meanwhile, stood by his teammate, praising Weaver’s overall contributions this season and describing him as an elite and integral part of the team. The Yankees ace emphasized that even the best players have off nights, and this game was an outlier in Weaver’s otherwise reliable season.
“Luke has been so good for us this year, I mean, elite,” he said. “We all have our off days. He’s a big part of our team and he’s helped us out a lot. It’s a situation that normally he comes in and locks down. He just didn’t have a good day today.”
In the fourth inning, Gerrit Cole demonstrated his ability to navigate high-pressure situations. After allowing the first three batters to reach base, including an RBI single by Adolis Garcia, the Yankees ace displayed his resilience by striking out the next three hitters, effectively neutralizing the threat. His knuckle-curve proved particularly effective in this critical moment.
However, a turning point in the game came when Manager Aaron Boone decided to pull Cole after he reached the 90-pitch mark, despite his strong performance. Boone later explained that the strict pitch limit was part of a cautious approach, considering Cole’s recent history, including starting the season on the injured list and missing a start due to general fatigue. Boone emphasized Cole’s importance to the Yankees’ pitching rotation, expressing a desire to manage his workload carefully. He also noted that Cole’s outing was encouraging, as the pitcher successfully utilized various aspects of his arsenal.
When Luke Weaver was eventually removed from the game, he was met with disapproval from the Yankees’ fans. However, the negative reaction may have been more about Boone’s earlier decision to take Cole out of the game rather than Weaver’s performance.
Reflecting on Weaver’s tough outing, Boone acknowledged that such struggles are part of the game. He highlighted Weaver’s overall positive contributions to the bullpen, emphasizing that occasional setbacks are expected over a long season. The Yankees manager noted that Weaver seemed to lack his usual command of his changeup on this day, which contributed to his difficulties.
Chisholm’s miscue proves costly for Yankees
In a crucial sixth-inning sequence, the momentum swung sharply against the Yankees following Gerrit Cole’s exit. With runners on first and second and one out, Leody Taveras hit a shallow fly ball to right field. Juan Soto made a diving attempt but couldn’t secure the catch, as the ball slipped from his glove upon impact with the ground.
Soto, still on the ground, quickly threw the ball to Gleyber Torres, who then fired it to the Yankees’ third base ahead of Nathaniel Lowe’s arrival. Jazz Chisholm Jr., covering third, straddled the bag rather than keeping constant contact, leading to a delayed tag attempt that should have been unnecessary for a force out. Initially, the umpire ruled Lowe out, but after a successful challenge by the Rangers, it was revealed that Chisholm’s left foot briefly lost contact with the base, resulting in Lowe being ruled safe and loading the bases.
Chisholm later explained his actions, stating he thought Soto had made the catch and was preparing for a potential double play as Lowe appeared to be tagging up.
The situation quickly deteriorated for the Yankees when Carson Kelly drew a walk, forcing in a run. Adolis García then scored on Josh Smith’s sacrifice fly. The inning unraveled further when Corey Seager launched a three-run homer—his first at Yankee Stadium—blowing the game wide open.
This sequence proved costly for the Yankees. Had they secured the second out on the disputed play at third base, they might have escaped the inning unscathed. Instead, they surrendered five runs, drastically altering the game’s outcome.
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