Cole gives Yankees needed depth, but bats quieted again by Rays
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ST. PETERSBURG – Gerrit Cole provided the deep outing that the Yankees were hoping for, firing a season-high 97 pitches, but the right-hander exited on the long side of the decision in Wednesday evening’s 3-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Cole exited to an ovation from the pro-Bombers contingent of the crowd after recording his sixth strikeout, a swinging seventh-inning punchout of Nick Fortes. Tampa Bay led at the time, 2-0, with Jonathan Aranda having knocked in both runs.
Aranda lifted a sacrifice fly off Fernando Cruz later in the seventh, marking a third run charged to Cole.
Making his ninth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, Cole scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one in the effort, throwing 69 strikes while touching 99 mph and sitting 96.9 mph with his fastball.
The Bombers’ bats mustered little against Shane McClanahan, who permitted four hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Entering Wednesday, the Yankees had scored the Majors’ fewest runs (56) dating to June 18.
Yandy Díaz doubled and scored on Aranda’s third-inning RBI single. Aranda touched Cole again in the fifth for a run-scoring double.