From Our Contributors, Sports

Cole Sharp Yanks Take Game 1 of ALDS

Cole Comes Up Big In Game 1
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
 
 
By Andrew Rosario
 
Rizzo Blasts Go Ahead HR
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

 

Gerrit Cole wanted to justify manager Aaron Boone’s decision to start him in game 1 of the American League Division Series. There had been talk of Boone starting lefty Nestor “Nasty” Cortez which would have pushed Cole’s start to Thursday night. Instead, if Cole was concerned about his past postseason failures, he certainly did not show it as he shut down the Cleveland Guardians offense as New York took game 1 4-1. 
 
Cole pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up only 4 hits, striking out 8 and walking only 1 batter. His only blemish, something that has haunted him in past playoff games, was giving up a solo home run to Cleveland’s Steven Kwan in the third inning. It looked like Cole was affected by the blast as he would hit Ahmed Rosario and give up a double to Jose Ramirez. Cole then righted himself.
 
Bronxville Native Living A Dream
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

 

It began after Josh Naylor reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Oscar Gonzalez grounded into a force at home plate. Cole then struck out Andres Gimenez to end the inning. Of getting out of the jam Cole said, “I prepared myself for traffic,” he began. “I certainly had quite a bit of it, too many experiences with traffic this year.” 
 
Bronxville born Harrison Bader would tie the game at 1 in the bottom inning with a blast to left field. Cole regained his sharpness as he retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced and watched as Anthony Rizzo blast a 2-run homer giving New York a lead they would never relinquish as the lead as 3 Yankee relievers would give up no runs and 2-hits the rest of the way.
 
Aaron Boone and the Yankees rolled the dice by starting Cole not knowing what they would get. They came up with a 7. Said Boone, “he executed, and that may be the at-bat of the game right there,” of Cole escaping the third inning. “He was in some trouble there and kept making pitches.”
 
The forecast for Thursday’s game is calling for 80% rain. If the game is cancelled it will be played Friday at 2pm which means they will be play four games in a row.