NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole survived his “bugaboo”, the long ball, and was sharp in his first playoff start in the Bronx in pinstripes. The Bombers hit two homers to overpower the Guardians and take Game 1 of the American League Division Series 4-1 Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees jumped out to the early lead in the best-of-five game series with homers from Anthony Rizzo and Harrison Bader. They will host the Guardians for Game 2 on Thursday, weather permitting, with Nestor Cortes Jr., who was arguably the Yankees best pitcher this season, on the mound against Guardians’ ace Shane Bieber.
Cole held the Guardians to a run on four hits over 6.1 innings pitched, throwing 101 pitches. He struck out eight and walked one. He left after giving up a single to Myles Straw, a liner off Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s glove with one out in the seventh.
