New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a strong return from an elbow injury in Wednesday’s shortened game, his 2024 debut.
The Baltimore Orioles held a 3-1 lead after Cole was replaced in the fifth inning, but the Yankees, who had the best record in the AL despite losing their best pitcher, will be stronger with Cole’s return and more confident going into his first outing of the season facing major league hitters.
Cole pitched four innings, allowing three hits, one walk and two earned runs while striking out five. His four-seam fastball topped out at 97 mph, just above his 2023 average velocity of 96.7 mph.
He held the opposing team to one run over four innings, throwing 61 pitches, before returning to pitch in the fifth inning, where he allowed a first-pitch single to Cedric Mullins and finished the day after pitching 62 pitches.
Manager Aaron Boone was cautious with his ace and used reliever Ron Marinaccio, who gave up a home run to Ramon Urias in his next at-bat and gave up Cole’s second unearned run to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Cole wasn’t happy with the substitution or the Orioles’ lead, but there was a lot to be impressed with in his first start of 2024.
Cole led off the scoring with a leadoff double.
Cole started the game by allowing a leadoff double to Gunnar Henderson. Second baseman Gleyber Torres had a chance to hit a grounder, but the ball bounced off his glove and into right field, allowing Henderson to reach second base. Henderson then doubled on Ryan O’Hearn’s ground-rule double to advance to second base and score with two outs.
Cole finished his first inning after returning with 10 strikeouts on 13 pitches, two hits and one earned run, before settling down after that.
Cole retired the top of the second inning, 1-2-3, in seven pitches, then struck out the first batter of the season in the top of the third, when Jorge Mateo swung and missed at a cutter with three strikes.
He then walked Henderson on eight pitches, his first and only walk of the night, before striking out two more to finish the third inning. He struck out Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle to finish the second inning with three strikeouts, finishing his second time on the mound with the Orioles’ top of the lineup.
Cole then completed an easy fourth inning, going 1-2-3 with just two strikeouts, inviting O’Hearn to line out to lead off the inning and then striking out both Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser with a 96 mph fastball in the upper part of the zone.
He then returned briefly in the fifth inning, but was replaced after the first pitch.
Cole spent the season on the disabled list after dealing with neuritis and swelling in his pitching elbow. He avoided Tommy John surgery and has been working his way up with rehab appearances over the past few weeks. The Yankees called him up for Wednesday’s game after pitching 12 1/3 innings, striking out 19 batters and walking no batters in three minor league rehab appearances.
Barring any setbacks, he’s now back in the starting rotation and his pitch count should gradually increase as the Yankees set their sights on the American League pennant and beyond.
