NEW YORK — Yankees starter Gerrit Cole smiled as he circled the mound. Twins cleanup hitter Trevor Larnach had just launched a towering flyball to right field with one out in the top of the seventh, a 108.9-mph rocket ticketed for the seats.
Instead of watching it soar over the short porch, however, Cole exhaled as right fielder Oswaldo Cabrera camped out at the warning track, his back to the fence as he hauled in the 356-foot flyout.
That flyball off Larnach’s bat was the closest the Twins came to scoring a run on Sunday afternoon in the Bronx. Cole was absolutely brilliant, putting the Yankees on his back while twirling a shutout in a 2-0 win, the fourth shutout of his career.
It was one of the best outings of Cole’s career since signing with the Yankees, pure and utter dominance to lead his team to victory. He struck out 10, allowed two hits and walked one, mowing hitters down while throwing 109 pitches.
BUY GERRIT COLE’S JERSEY HERE
Last season, Cole gave up 33 home runs during the regular season, setting a new career high. Fans grew accustomed to untimely solo homers when the ace was on the mound, often erasing dominant performances. That hasn’t been the case in 2023. The ace is now through four starts without allowing a home run. Cole has an 0.95 ERA over 28 1/3 innings this year, recording a win in all four of his outings.
Cole also made some history on Sunday, as he so often does when he toes the rubber. With 10 strikeouts, the right-hander produced his 23rd double-digit strikeout game in a Yankees uniform, tying left-hander Ron Guidry for the franchise record — one that he’ll certainly break within his next few starts.
He’s also the first Yankee to record a sub-1.00 ERA and 30-plus strikeouts through his first four outings of the season in franchise history (since ERA became an official stat in 1913).
The Yankees didn’t have too much offense on Sunday and they didn’t need it either. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu accounted for both of their runs…
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