Cole labors on extended rest: 'It was a grind'

NEW YORK -- With the Yankees rallying for a 6-5 victory on Saturday despite ace Gerrit Cole’s less-than-stellar effort in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Royals, it only matters now what the big right-hander does going forward.

The way this schedule breaks for this best-of-five series -- an off-day on Sunday and a travel day on Tuesday -- Cole is likely to be heard from again in Game 4 (if necessary) on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

That will give him a chance for redemption after a choppy effort in which he surrendered 11 hard-hit balls, tying his career high in a start (regular season or postseason) since Statcast started tracking exit velocity in 2015.

Over five innings (plus one batter in the sixth), Cole didn’t look like his typically dominant self, giving up seven hits and four runs (three earned) while walking two and striking out four.

When the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner walked off the mound with nobody out in the sixth, he had a chance to get the win, leaving with a 4-3 lead. Instead, he wound up with a no-decision in a game that had an MLB postseason-record five lead changes.

“I made my fair share of mistakes, that's for sure. Need to be sharper,” Cole said.

The fact that the Yankees won the game very much changed the narrative on the subpar outing for the $324 million man.

In all best-of-five postseason series, the team that wins Game 1 has gone on to take the series 109 of 152 times (72%). In Division Series under the current 2-2-1 format, teams winning Game 1 at home have advanced 37 of 51 times (73%).

If Cole takes the ball again in this series, it will be with either a chance to pitch the Yankees into the AL Championship Series or to force a winner-take-all Game 5.

Because New York earned a first-round bye, Cole was on eight days of rest on Saturday. Could that have impacted his performance?

“Yeah, certainly,” Cole said. “I’m just going to try to look at the film and learn from the mistakes.”

When Cole walked out to the bullpen prior to the contest, the bleacher creatures -- nearly all of them decked out in the Yankees’ home white -- roared in anticipation. And they chanted his name in unison as he inched closer.

“Wow, incredible atmosphere,” Cole said. “I don't think I've ever had a roll call all the way out from the dugout. So that was really special.”

A couple of hours later, when Cole exited stage right, the fans positioned behind the dugout mustered a polite ovation.

“It was a grind,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Cole’s performance.

Given Sunday’s off-day, Boone was able to aggressive in utilizing his bullpen, taking out Cole after a leadoff single by Yuli Gurriel in the sixth. Four Yankees relievers got the final 12 outs, allowing just one hit and no earned runs.

“Obviously the bullpen coming in and holding the line and [Luke Weaver] finishing it off, it was a good way to start,” Boone said.

Cole was fortunate in the first, surrendering three flyouts with an exit velocity of 102.5 mph or higher. He got through the inning on just seven pitches. One of the seven was hammered to the gap in left-center by Bobby Witt Jr., but Aaron Judge raced over to make a fine running catch, drawing roars from the Yankee Stadium faithful.

In trouble again in the second, Cole again had some luck on his side. With two on and none out, MJ Melendez laced a single to right. Despite the fact the slow-footed Salvador Perez was running, Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson curiously sent him home, and Juan Soto fired a dart to nail him. Instead of bases loaded with none out, the Royals had runners on the corners with one out. Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly accounted for the only run of the inning.

Melendez would be heard from again when he lofted a two-run homer to right in the third to give Kansas City a 3-2 lead. Some of Cole’s struggles were a credit to the Royals.

“His stuff is good,” said Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro. “I thought we did a really nice job of battling him. If you tell me before the game that's how his line is going to be, I'm going to take my chances with that every day of the week.”

Just as the Yankees will gladly take their chances with Cole on the mound if needed later in the series.