Yankees takeaways from Friday’s 6-2 win over the Rays, including Gerrit Cole’s case of Cy Young

Gerrit Cole recovered from his worst start to the season in a big way on Friday when he led the Yanks to a 6-2 opening win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Four things to know about Friday’s game

1. Apart from Yandy DiazCole didn’t stand a chance on the solo home run in the sixth inning. In 7.2 innings, he threw 100 pitches (66 strikes), allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, and hit out 11 while not walking. From the second through sixth innings, Cole (11-4, 2.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) retired 13 straight Rays. In a dark year for the Yankees (62-66), Cole was always a bright spot — and he sent a message with his AL Cy Young Award plea against Tampa Bay (78-52).

2nd run support was a problem for Cole and the Yankees, but this time he got more than enough from his teammates. DJ LeMahieuHis solo shots in the fifth and eighth innings played a key role. He drew the first blood and collapsed Zach Elfin‘s nearly shut out in five innings, smashing a break ball 2-1 into left midfield and giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

LeMahieu’s 11th long ball of the year also came with two outs, in the eighth when he turned on Trevor Kelly‘s 2-1 slider and hit another home run down center left to extend the Yankees’ 6-1 lead.

3. Top view Everson Pereira – the No. 3 player in the Yankees organization, the New York called earlier this week — came through with an RBI single in the sixth inning that gave Cole some breathing room. With two outs, Pereira made sure the Yankees didn’t falter in their leadership efforts Gleyber Torres And Gian Carlo Stanton – Batters Nos. 3 and 4 in Friday’s lineup were in first and second place after singles and walks, respectively.

Pereira scored the second goal – both RBI singles players – of his four-game career when he brought a 0-1 fastball into right midfield and doubled the Yankees’ lead to 2-0.

4. Torres and Stanton came back to advance a crucial seventh inning in which the Yankees crossed three more runs. With two ons and an out, Torres ripped a 2-1 fastball from Kelley across the left field line and hit a double (20) that hit LeMahieu and gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead Aaron Richter went from first to third base.

A batter later, Stanton threw Kelley’s 2-1 sinker off the left center wall, scoring Judge and Torres and extending the Yankees’ lead to a comfortable 5-1 lead. The Rays hit a run with two outs in the eighth inning Brandon Lowe Single to left field away Jonathan Loaisigathe Cole replaced, but the Yankees limited the damage and sealed the four-run win.

highlights

What’s next

The Yankees and Rays continue their three-game streak Saturday at 4:10 p.m

RHP’s Clark Schmidt (8-7, 4.68 ERA) and Tyler Glasnow (6-4, 3.35 ERA) are set to begin.