The Rays rally for 4 runs to beat Yankees 4-2 despite Gerrit Cole’s return
NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched six scoreless innings in his return from elbow ligament replacement surgery but shortstop José Caballero’s error led to a four-run eighth inning that boosted the Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees 4-2 on Friday night for their 16th win in 19 games. Austin Wells homered for the first time since April 28, a fifth-inning drive off Nick Martinez, before Tampa Bay rallied to deal the Yankees their third straight loss and 10th in 14 games. The Rays, a big league-best 34-15, are 4-0 against the Yankees and opened a 5 1/2-game AL East lead over New York Yankees star Aaron Judge went 0 for 4 with a game-ending flyout to the center-field warning track with a man on and is in 1-for-24 slide that dropped his average to .
245. Judge has gone a career-high 11 games without any RBIs. A 35-year-old right-hander who had surgery in March 2025, Cole allowed two hits and three walks while striking out two.
The six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award averaged 96. 1 mph with his four-seam fastball. Caballero, back at shortstop after missing 10 days with a broken finger , allowed Chandler Simpson’s one-hopper to bounce off his glove leading of the eighth.
Junior Caminero singled off Tim Hill (0-2), Jonathan Aranda followed with an RBI double and Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked. Richie Palacios hit a comebacker that could have been a 1-2-3 double play but the ball bounced off the glove of a leaping Hill, over Caballero and into center for a two-run single. Ryan Vilade added a sacrifice fly.
Ian Seymour (3-0) allowed Jazz Chisholm Jr. ’s RBI triple in the eighth and Bryan Baker got three outs for his 14th save in 17 chances. ASTROS 4, CUBS 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Vazquez homered, Spencer Arrighetti threw five scoreless innings and Houston topped scuffling Chicago.
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