Gerrit Cole Sets Tone For Yankees Season In Debut
Baseball is back, but it didn’t last long. With rain rolling in the late-night matchup between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals was called at the top of the sixth inning. A disappointing result considering how long it has been since any professional sports have been played, but Yankees fans have to be happy with a win. In a 60 game, shortened season wins will matter just a little bit more early on.
Cole’s Debut
Gerrit Cole signed a 9-year $324 million dollar contract with the Yankees this offseason and it looks like they’ll be getting their money’s worth. Cole allowed just 1 run, on 1 hit, a solo shot in the first inning. Throwing just 75 pitches, 46 strikes he walked 1 and struck out 5. Granted it was a shortened game, but a one-hit complete game is a great way to start the season for the newly acquired right-hander.
More MLB: How the Yankees Benefit From Time Off
Big Bats
There was no shortage of bats last season as the Yanks had 14 players with double-digit home runs, falling just shy of the league-leading Minnesota Twins in home runs (307-306). Giancarlo Stanton got the ball rolling in 2020 with his 2-run homer in the first inning providing Cole with an early lead he would never relinquish. From there on out, only three other Yankees would go on to get hits totaling just 6 on the night, with a double from Aaron Judge.
Patience at the plate was a strong suit for the Yankees as four base on balls consistently put them on base. If this is any indication of what the season holds, look for a season where their bats come into play in higher scoring affairs. If pitching holds throughout the season there could be many lopsided games.
What’s next:
With a 4-1 victory, the Yankees have an off day on Friday to follow back to back days against the Nationals on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s matchup will be another night game with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 on Fox. Sunday will be their first early game scheduled for 1:05 on the Yes Network.
Saturday’s matchup free of any setbacks should see lefty James Paxton against right-handers Stephen Strasburg.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
