The Yankees took a brutal 2-1 loss against the Dodgers on Friday night, and manager Aaron Boone is owning up to the costly decision that snatched away a potential win. He left Gerrit Cole in to face Max Muncy in the seventh inning, a move that immediately blew up in the team’s face and changed the entire game.
The Seventh Inning Gamble That Cost Everything
Gerrit Cole was absolutely dealing through six innings, allowing just three singles and staking the Yankees to a 1-0 lead. He was looking sharp, but the seventh inning started with him already at 90 pitches. Cole battled Mookie Betts, but the shortstop worked a walk, prompting Boone to come out to the mound. It was a pivotal moment. Southpaw Brent Headrick was already warmed up and ready in the bullpen, set to potentially face the left-handed Muncy. But Boone had a conversation with Cole, and despite having the fresh arm ready, he left his ace out there. Cole and Muncy battled it out, only for a 90 mph slider right over the heart of the plate to become a two-run shot. That homer was the decisive blow, making it 2-1, and just like that, the Yankees’ lead was gone.
Boone Takes the Blame, Cole Stays Focused
After the game, Boone didn’t pull any punches about the decision. “I was feeling the situation out,” he admitted. “Obviously, in hindsight, I probably should grab him there.” He acknowledged Cole “pitched so well” and felt Cole was competitive against Betts, believing he had enough for Muncy. “But then [Muncy] got a mistake. I got Headrick teed up there. That’s on me. I should probably get him there, even though it felt like he was in a good place and obviously threw the ball great tonight.” Boone even mentioned he asked Cole if he had one more batter in him, and Cole said yes. But the skipper recognized his error, stating, “That falls on me.” Cole himself could only say, “It’s not where I wanted, but I looked at the swing and it was pretty excellent. But yea, it stinks.”
Despite the gut-wrenching loss, this outing was Cole’s best start since his elbow surgery over a year ago. He pushed his stamina to a season-high 103 pitches and struck out eight of that formidable Dodgers lineup. Boone praised it as “back-to-back outstanding outings” and “really sharp” work. Cole sees it as a “learning opportunity physically” and a reminder that “it’s not over till it’s over.” He now stands at 3-5 with a 3.93 ERA, having allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts. The Yankees will need to bounce back hard when they face the Dodgers again on Saturday night. That’s a chance to make a statement and flip the script.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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