New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole strikes out 10 in 4⅓ innings in his third rehab start and will be back with the Yankees next week.
Rochester, New York – Ace New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole, Hit 10 hits in a game Triple Friday night, probably The last step before returning From an elbow injury and join the rotation For his team for the first time this season.
The American League Cy Young Award winner allowed just two hits and one unearned run in 4⅓ innings for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in Rochester, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
He threw 46 of 70 pitches for strikes and walked none.
This was Cole's third minor league rehab start: the first two were in Double A with Somerset. The right-hander could make his season debut for the Yankees next Wednesday or Thursday at home against the Baltimore Orioles.
Cole, 33, made his only spring training start on March 1, then was diagnosed with neuritis and edema and told to rest. He started throwing bullpen on 4 May and began his first rehabilitation with Somerset on 4 June.
Cole allowed a double in the first inning on Friday and an unearned run on a single in the fourth inning. He opened by striking out Rochester's first, third, and fourth batters who opened the innings.
He added a hit in the second inning and struck out all three in the third and fourth innings. He led off the fifth inning with his tenth hit before getting relieved.
Cole pitched 4⅔ single innings Sunday for Somerset, allowing two hits, striking out four and walking one against Hartford in a game in which he retired his first eight batters. In that outing, he threw 44 of 57 pitches for strikes in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey.
Cole threw 45 pitches in 3⅓ scoreless innings for the Patriots on June 4.