Cole picked up his eighth strikeout of the game to end the seventh. There is a time and a place.
Cole was signed by the New York Yankees.
With the Yankees' 99-win season on the line, Cole spun seven sparkling pitches, propelling New York to a 4-2 win over the upstart Cleveland Guardians on Sunday as the Yankees tied the American League Division Series at two games apiece.
Cole gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, not just in staving off elimination but also in saving further wear and tear on the relief corps, which has been ravaged by injuries.
The Yankees manager said that he kept making pitches. He was in control of the moment and it was a huge start for us. To get us that deep in the game made us feel good.
Cole allowed the Cleveland leadoff hitter to reach base in each of the first four frames but he was able to dial it up and escape with little to no damage on the board. He kept his pitch count under control and pulled off that trick.
Cole said that the stuff was pretty good for most of the night. We just executed a lot of good pitches. It's enough to get away with a few errors.
Josh Naylor led off with a home run in the fourth. Naylor went into a celebratory gesture as he circled the bases.
Cole said he wasn't aware of Naylor's antics until after the game, so if the intent was to put Cole off his game, it wouldn't work.
Cole didn't say anything. I think it's cute. It wouldn't bother me in the moment because I didn't see it. It is hilarious.
Cole had a great game in the fourth game of the series, as he held Cleveland to two runs and threw over 100 pitches.
Will Brennan was struck out by the final pitch, a 98 mph fastball. Cole screamed and pumped his arms as he walked off the mound, suggesting that someone knew he had done his job.
The tank had been emptied by him.
Cole said that he does that whenever he pitches.
The big blow for the Yankees was struck by Harrison Bader, who hit a two-run home run in the second to give New York a three-run lead.
He was on the injured list with a foot injury when he was acquired. He played in just 14 games for New York during the regular season, hitting.217 with no homers, after he was able to return to the Yankees.
He's trying to make up for lost time His first two homers of the playoffs were on Sunday. He joined a list of Yankees fans. Only two other Yankees center fielders have hit at least three homers in a single playoffs game: Mickey Mantle andBernie Williams.
Bader said that he was grateful and fortunate for the chance. It feels great to be a yankee. I carry that in my preparation.
With Cole reducing the workload of the New York relief corps to six batters, Boone was able to use a closer in the eighth and a left-handed pitcher in the ninth. Both hurlers faced the segment of the order in which they would best match up.
It was lined up well for us. Every little out that sets up someone in a better position is always big.
If he responds well to his first outing, he could pitch in back-to-back games. If that happened, it will be a topic of discussion during the Yankees' news conference on Monday.
The Indians were set in order in the ninth by Peralta. The efficiency of the outing made it possible for the veteran lefty to pitch in the finale.
Because of Cole's outing, the rest of the New YorkReliever will be completely rested. The Yankees will face the Cleveland Indians in the fifth game of the series.
When you step foot in Yankee Stadium, there is going to be a certain amount of excitement. I will not change my day to be different.
Terry Francona didn't use any of his big three relief pitchers during the two games in Cleveland, so that will affect the Indians' relief corps.
It's going to be all hands on deck as the $68 millionGuardians attempt to knock off the $246 millionYankees.
"If you told me back in March that we were going to go to the ALCS, I'd go to New York," Francona said. This is. I'm looking forward to it.
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