NEW YORK – For those who were in the Yankees’ clubhouse at that time, memories of the 2024 World Series are looked upon as “one of those things that leaves a scar,” as manager Aaron Boone was saying before Friday’s game against the Dodgers.
Gerrit Cole knows a thing or two about scars; after all, he’s sporting a relatively fresh one on his pitching elbow. Looking to turn the page from the last time his club hosted Los Angeles in the Bronx, Cole twirled a gem but hung around one batter too late, serving up a go-ahead home run to Max Muncy in the seventh inning.
Boone visited the mound after Cole issued a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts, eyeing a bullpen where both Fernando Cruz and Brent Headrick were ready. Cole convinced Boone not to make the move, and the right-hander hung a 2-2 slider that Muncy parked into the second deck in right field for a two-run homer.
Matched against Roki Sasaki, Cole claimed the upper hand to that point, striking out eight over six-plus innings. Including Muncy’s homer, the Dodgers managed just four hits and one walk off Cole, who threw 66 of 103 pitches for strikes.
It was Cole’s 10th start since returning from Tommy John surgery, performed in March 2025.
Until May 22 of this season, Cole’s most recent big league contest had been the deciding Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when five unearned runs scored in a disastrous fifth inning that included a gassed Cole failing to cover first base on a Betts grounder.
Though there has been roster turnover since 2024, much of the Yankees’ core from that pennant-winning club remains. Boone said there is still “pain and disappointment” that continues to linger from the World Series loss, which he hopes will fuel his club as it looks to begin the second half strong.
“Any time we play the Dodgers, whether it’s here or in L.A., it always feels big,” Boone said. “There’s a lot of eyeballs on it. Throughout the year, you have different series that feel a little bigger. This is one of those.”
