PHOENIX -- Gerrit Cole had never surrendered seven home runs over a two-start span before his most recent outings, and with the playoffs around the corner, there was concern that the Yankees’ right-hander might have hit a wall.
Most of that came from outside the clubhouse. Yankees manager Aaron Boone affirmed Friday that Cole should expect to draw a start if his team lands in the American League Wild Card Series, and the veteran made good on his promise to fix the long-ball issue, pitching well in a 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday night.
The Yankees (89-64) won for the 11th time in 15 games, moving within four games of the Rays in the AL East after Tampa Bay lost to Boston earlier in the night.
Hours after Cody Bellinger said the Yankees would have to “lean on each other” to overcome Aaron Judge’s absence, with the three-time AL MVP potentially set to miss the rest of the regular season with a right calf strain, the Bombers supported Cole with a five-run first inning.
Each of the first five batters reached base and scored against Eduardo Rodriguez. Ben Rice worked a bases-loaded walk, Amed Rosario lifted a run-scoring single and George Lombard Jr. stroked a two-run single -- part of a three-RBI night for the rookie, who launched a sixth-inning homer that chased Rodriguez.
Rice also slugged his team-leading 39th home run to support Cole, who had served up leadoff homers in his previous two starts. Having spent time focusing on his delivery and potential pitch-tipping issues since his last outing against the Mets, Cole set Arizona down in order during a 12-pitch first inning.
Corbin Carroll cracked a two-run homer in the second inning off Cole, but that was all the D-backs managed. Throwing 90 pitches (62 for strikes), Cole scattered four hits, walking none and striking out six.