NEW YORK -- Gerrit Cole was riding a five-start streak of holding opponents to two runs or fewer. The Yankees’ ace was one pitch away from making it six.
Instead, Christian Walker hit a two-run homer that landed in the front row of the right-field seats, pushing the Astros further ahead near the conclusion of Cole’s six-inning effort in Thursday's 5-1 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Facing Houston for the first time since Game 3 of the 2022 American League Championship Series, Cole was touched for three runs and six hits, tossing 59 of 79 pitches for strikes. The right-hander walked one and struck out five.
Houston nicked Cole for a third-inning run when Jeremy Peña was hit by a pitch, then scored from first base on Isaac Paredes’ single to right field.
The Yankees entered Thursday having scored 24 runs in their last three games, but they mustered little support for Cole facing former Yankees prospect Hayden Wesneski.
New York’s only run with Cole in the game came in the home half of the sixth, when Ben Rice doubled, advanced on a flyout and scored on a Cody Bellinger sacrifice fly.