Cole bitten by homer bug for second straight start
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NEW YORK – The cameras had clicked off, but Gerrit Cole still had something to say.
Looking back over his right shoulder as he padded out of the Petco Park visitors’ clubhouse last week, the Yankees’ right-hander offered a succinct evaluation of his latest start: “I allowed too many home runs.”
The issue, and likely Cole’s summary, remained the same on Saturday. Cole surrendered three home runs en route to a fifth-inning knockout as the Yankees fell to the Mets, 12-2, snapping a four-game winning streak.
Francisco Lindor belted a leadoff homer off Cole, who had surrendered three consecutive homers to open the start at San Diego. Lindor later added an eighth-inning grand slam off Bradley Hanner.
Facing Cole, Luis Torrens cracked a two-run shot in the second inning and Carson Benge lifted a solo blast in the third.
The seven homers allowed are the most of any two-game span in Cole’s career, offering cause for concern after a seamless return from Tommy John surgery and mostly strong outings following his return to the rotation in late May.
Cody Bellinger homered and drove in two runs for the Yankees, who had won six consecutive home games.
Facing Tim Hill, Juan Soto belted a solo home run to the right-field bleachers in the seventh inning. It was Soto’s first homer at Yankee Stadium since he left as a free agent following the 2024 pennant-winning season.