Gerrit Cole throws six strong runs in Yankees’ 6-1 win over Rays

Gerrit Cole The Yankees started the second half of the season strong again with a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

These are the main points…

– Cole built on his impressive start last week against Baltimore with another strong outing Friday night against the Rays. The right-hander threw six innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk while striking out eight.

The only setback came in Cole’s final inning when he gave up a leadoff home run. Brandon Lowe.

Otherwise, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, who missed the first two and a half months of the season, is starting to look more like himself. He reached 97 mph with his fastball and lowered his ERA from 5.40 to 4.60 in his sixth start of the season. The Yankees will be dependent on a healthy Cole for the second half of the season, and he has allowed just two runs and struck out 15 in his last 12 innings pitched.

–Anthony Volpe began the second half of the season with a much-needed strong 2-for-4 night, driving in three runs. They all came with one swing of the bat with the bases loaded in the third inning, when he hit a two-out double down the left-field line to clear the bases and give the Yankees a 4-0 lead. It was his first game with at least three RBI since May 7.

–Juan Soto had a rather unique night at the plate. He finished 4-for-4 with two singles – including a bunt single as part of the Yankees’ four-run third inning – a walk and two doubles, one of which was a Little League home run. That came in the fourth inning when Soto hit a fastball off the left-center field wall and came all the way home on a fielding error by Randy Arozarena and a throwing error by the second baseman Richie Palacioswhich hit Soto as he slid into third base, putting the ball out of play and allowing Soto to score and give the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

–Aaron Rechter went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the sixth inning to pick up where he left off. The Yankees slugger, who was the DH Friday night, hit a ball off his left leg in the fourth inning and was checked by the trainer, but appeared to be fine and finished the rest of the game.

–Tommy Kahnle, Jake Neven And Caleb Ferguson together good for three scoreless innings from the bullpen.

MVP of the match: Anthony Volpe

There were certainly a few candidates, but Volpe is the preferred choice after he delivered the big blow with the bases loaded in the third inning, driving in all three runners with a double down the left-field line to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead, part of a 2-for-4 night for the shortstop.

Highlights

What’s next

The Yankees continue their four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Nestor Cortes (4-8, 3.67 ERA) will get the start for New York while Taj Bradley (4-4, 2.90 ERA) takes the mound for Tampa Bay.

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