Stewart hits 2 HRs to help Orioles beat Cole and Yankees 6-1

BALTIMORE (AP) — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had a dominating start go awry during a nightmarish sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles, who got a slump-breaking homer from DJ Stewart before tacking on four unearned runs in a 6-1 victory Saturday night.

Cole (4-3) lost a third straight start for the first time since July 30-Aug. 10, 2018, with Houston. Prior to this skid, the right-hander had reeled off 20 straight regular-season victories.

Cole struck out eight of the first nine batters he faced, the exception a grounder to shortstop by Ryan Mountcastle. The only Oriole to reach over the first five innings was José Iglesias, who doubled to left-center on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the fourth.

But the Yankees couldn't mount any offense against Baltimore rookie Keegan Akin, so the game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Stewart was 0 for 17 this season before leading off with a drive over the right-field wall. A throwing error by third baseman Thairo Estrada preceded two walks and a two-run single by Mountcastle, and Rio Ruiz capped the uprising with a two-run double.

Cole finished with 10 strikeouts over six innings. He allowed four hits and just one earned run.

After Cole departed, Stewart homered again, in the seventh off Miguel Yajure for a 6-0 lead. It was the first multihomer game for Stewart, who will be seeing more playing time down the stretch after Anthony Santander was put on the injured list Saturday with a strained right oblique.

Cole was brilliant at the outset, but so was Akin in his fourth career appearance and second start. The 2016 second-round draft pick allowed no runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight with four walks.

He was replaced by Dillon Tate (1-0), who pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings to earn...

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