Cole Sets Draft-Pick Wins Record, Yankees Win 9-2
Cole Sets Draft-Pick Wins Record, Yankees Win 9-2
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Key Points
1
The Yankees had already clinched a playoff berth before the game, but they learned that three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge was headed back to the injured list with a right calf strain.
2
Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez needed 45 pitches to complete the first inning, a career high for a single inning, after New York’s first five batters reached base.
3
Ben Rice’s homer extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he has hit three home runs; he entered the game batting .264 with an .897 OPS across 146 contests.
4
The Diamondbacks planned to start Brandon Pfaadt against New York on Saturday, while the Yankees were scheduled to counter with Cam Schlittler.
The New York Yankees routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2, with Gerrit Cole earning his 162nd career win and becoming the winningest No. 1 overall draft pick in baseball history. New York scored five runs in the first inning and has now won eight of its last 10 games, though the team remains four games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with nine games left in the regular season.
Ben Rice went 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, two walks, and two RBIs, extending his hitting streak to seven games. However, the Yankees received bad news when Aaron Judge was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain before the game, despite the team already clinching a playoff berth.
Cole Dominates After Two Rough Starts
Gerrit Cole bounced back from consecutive tough outings by allowing just two runs and four hits over six innings. The 34-year-old right-hander struck out eight batters and recorded his 162nd career victory, surpassing all other No. 1 overall draft picks in Major League history. Cole's rebound performance provided the Yankees with critical stability on the mound.
Yankees Explode With Five-Run First Inning
New York's first five batters all reached base against Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez, forcing the reliever to throw 45 pitches just to escape the opening frame — a career high for a single inning. Ben Rice and George Lombard Jr. each drove in two runs during the blitz. Rice added a triple and two walks to his stat line, while Lombard drove in three total RBIs including a home run.
Rice's Hot Streak Continues Through Seven Games
Ben Rice has now hit safely in seven straight games, launching three home runs during that span. The 26-year-old slugger entered Friday batting .264 with an .897 on-base-plus-slugging percentage across 146 contests. His two-run homer Friday was his 39th of the season, keeping the Yankees' offense in high gear as they chase the division.
Diamondbacks Fade With Playoff Hopes Dimming
The loss dropped Arizona to three consecutive defeats and left them five games outside the final National League wild-card spot with eight games remaining. Corbin Carroll hit a two-run homer off Cole, but it proved insufficient. Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 5 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs and taking the loss as Arizona's postseason path narrows.
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