Yankees’ Gerrit Cole dazzles in return before Jose Caballero, bullpen blow game to Rays

NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone, a he walked from one end of the Yankees clubhouse to his back-wall locker late Friday afternoon. His long road back from Tommy John surgery finally over, the six-time All-Star right-hander already had his game face on. It was 3 ½ hours before the first pitch of his first real game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Outdoors, when day was turning to night, Cole had the same focus walking to and from the first-base dugout to the Yankees bullpen beyond the right-center field wall … And when he headed to the mound for the first inning with his walkout music blaring, The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter … And when he looked like he really wanted to catch a second-inning low popup near the mound before third baseman Ryan McMahon charged in and called him off at the last second. All of this focus led to outstanding results for any night, let alone a first big-league outing in almost 19 months, since his throwing error contributed to the Dodgers rallying from a 5-0, fifth-inning deficit at Yankee Stadium to wrap up the 2024 World Series. Before the Rays rallied late against the Yankees bullpen to pull out a 4-2 victory, Cole brought his Cy Young form, working six shutout innings in his first start back.

“It was almost like a second debut kind of a situation,” Cole said. “It was an enjoyable moment and it was nice to get back in the fire. ” Overcoming a little scare in the first inning, Cole allowed two hits, both singles, struck out two and walked three before leaving after six innings and 72 pitches with the Yankees ahead 1-0.

“Obviously really efficient,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I just thought he was really good. They were being very aggressive with him, but I thought he did a good job of mixing his four-seam (fastball) and his sinker.