Nearly a year ago, Rafael Devers left Gerrit Cole searching for solutions.
“I’m open to suggestions,” the Yankees ace said when asked how he planned to get Devers out moving forward. Devers had just taken Cole deep twice in a Yankees win at Fenway Park on July 7, adding to the Boston third baseman’s success against the pitcher.
That success continued on Friday night in the Bronx, as Devers helped the basement-dwelling Red Sox score their first two runs in a 3-2 win over the Yankees.
Boston got on the board first when Triston Casas singled off Cole in the fourth inning. That hit drove in Devers, who doubled off Cole earlier in the frame. Devers then homered off Cole in the sixth inning.
Cole threw the left-handed hitter a 90.2 mph changeup just below the zone, but that didn’t stop Devers from going the other way for a solo shot.
“I haven’t thought many times it’s been a really bad pitch,” Cole said, referring to past battles with the slugger. “Rafy seems to let me know otherwise. Pretty good pitch. Well executed but better swing.”
Devers has now crushed seven career homers off Cole. No batter has hit more against the right-hander.
“I wish I could answer that,” Cole said when asked why Devers has had his number. But when asked what allows the 26-year-old to mash quality pitches, Cole offered plenty of praise.
“He just has a lot of power and seems to be able to backspin the ball well,” Cole said. “He gets good carry on the pitch. I didn’t really expect him to be looking for a changeup after he hit the last one pretty well. I’ve had times where I’ve switched pitches and he’s been on them. I’ve had times where I’ve stayed stubborn and he’s been on them.
“They paid him $300 million for a reason. He’s a good player, man. I haven’t come across any other player quite like him.”
While Devers continued to thrive, Cole only allowed those two runs over six innings. He also totaled seven hits, one walk, six strikeouts and 101 pitches. He now has a 2.84 ERA this season.
Enrique Hernandez added his own solo homer off Albert Abreu in the seventh.
Garrett Whitlock, meanwhile, pitched better than his 5.61 ERA. The former Yankees prospect, snatched away by the Red Sox in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, held the Bombers to two runs (one earned) over 6.1 innings. Whitlock tallied seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts over 88 pitches.
“He pitched well,” Aaron Boone said of Whitlock. “We gave ourselves some chances. We just scattered our hits around.”
Whitlock’s one earned run came off the bat of Josh Donaldson, as he homered in the sixth. Donaldson has hit four home runs since coming off the injured list on June 2.
“A lot of really competitive ones,” Boone said of Donaldson’s recent at-bats. “Felt like he’s been in the fight pretty much every at-bat. Having a lot of long at-bats. He’s worked some walks in there. He’s obviously hit the ball out of the ballpark.
“It’s good to see him hitting the ball with authority like he is.”
The Yankees scored their other run in the seventh when Isiah Kiner-Falefa picked up an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and dashed home on a wild pitch.
Despite a quiet offensive night, the Yankees came feet away from winning the game when Anthony Volpe stepped to the plate with two on and two out in the ninth. With Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen on the mound, Volpe lined a 3-2 cutter down the left field line. But the rookie just missed a walk-off homer, and he ultimately popped out to short to end the game.
“Yeah, I did,” Volpe said when asked if he thought the rip had a chance. “But I knew it was hooking. I wanted it to hit the pole.
“I wanted to be aggressive in my zone. I knew he had good stuff and he’s had a really good career off of his cutter, so I figured I was going to get pitches to hit. I wanted to stay within myself and really be aggressive in my zone.”
With the Yankees’ first game of the season against the Red Sox wrapped up, the team will turn it’s attention to Tanner Houck, Boston’s Saturday starter. Domingo German, meanwhile, will take the ball for the Yankees in the series’ second game.
German has been the Yankees’ second-best starter this season, recording a 3.69 ERA over 11 outings and 61 innings. He most recently limited the Dodgers to one run over 6.2 innings in Los Angeles on June 4.
Sunday’s series finale features a matchup between two young right-handers, as Clarke Schmidt lines up with Boston’s Bryan Bello.
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