Yankees’ Cole just misses mark
Pitch count, Rays delay win streak
Gerrit Cole came within one strike of winning his 20th consecutive regularseason decision before getting pulled, as the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-4, Saturday in the opener of a seven-inning doubleheader.
Cole did not extend his winning streak, but the Yankees ace grinded out his first double-digit strikeout game with the Yankees, who powered their way past the Rays. He received a no-decision.
Cole, who had won his first three starts since signing a $324 million, nine-year contract in the offseason, took a 5-0 lead into the fifth but gave up three runs with two outs and was pulled because of his pitch count.
“Obviously pitch count got up there,” Cole said. “I wasn’t able to finish the outing the way we wanted to.”
Cole is bidding to tie Roger Clemens, Jake Arrieta and Rube Marquard for the thirdlongest consecutive decisions streak in history. Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell leads the list with 24 in a row, followed by Pirates 1960s relief ace Roy Face with 22.
Giants
Jeff Samardjiza was placed on the 10-day injured list by San Francisco due to right shoulder impingement. Manager Gabe Kapler said that the right-hander told trainers and the coaching staff that he felt like he wasn’t able to get the arm loose Friday in a game. Samardjiza is scheduled to have an MRI. He is 0-2 with a 9.88 ERA in three starts.
Nationals
World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut Sunday for Washington against the Baltimore Orioles after being sidelined by a nerve problem in his pitching hand. Strasburg missed what would have been his first two appearances of 2020 after making all 33 starts last year and then becoming the first pitcher to finish a postseason with a 5-0 record.
White Sox
Zack Burdi, Chicago’s first-round pick in the 2016 draft, tossed a scoreless sixth with two strikeouts in his major league debut. “Being from Chicago and making your debut for the White Sox is what 50 percent of Chicago dreams of,” Burdi said. “This was my dream and what I thought about when I was a kid. This is a huge day and I’m really excited it’s finally here and everyone was able to experience it.”
Indians
Zac Plesac (1-1) continued the pitching staff’s hot start by allowing five hits and striking out seven in a 7-1 win against the White Sox, lowering his ERA to 1.29 this year. The Cleveland pitching staff has allowed four runs or fewer in all 16 games this season.