Gerrit Cole fans 15, Yankees beat Angels 4-1 to end skid

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — While Gerrit Cole racked up a season-high 15 strikeouts on the diamond that was once his favorite field, Aaron Judge couldn't help pondering what the Yankees gained and the Angels lost when New York outmaneuvered Los Angeles for his services two years ago.

“I was just sitting out there in the outfield, (thinking), ‘Thank goodness he’s wearing his away jersey right now and not a white-and-red jersey,'” the slugger said with a smile. “He’s that good. He’s a guy that can change a team, change a franchise, and we’re just happy to have him.”

When the Yankees desperately needed to wrap up their road trip with a skid-stopping victory, their $324 million ace delivered.

Cole threw seven excellent innings of four-hit ball to earn his AL-leading 14th victory, and New York snapped its four-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory Wednesday night.

Judge hit his 30th homer and Luke Voit had a two-run single for the Yankees, who had won 13 straight before their slide.

Cole (14-6) pitched the final game of that winning streak, and he ended New York's slump in his next start with another performance befitting his mammoth contract. Cole even struck out Shohei Ohtani three times with his blazing fastball — a pitch that rarely seems to get past the major league homers leader this season.

Voit summed up Cole's outing in a word: “Bulldog.”

“This is what we paid him to come over here to do,” Voit added. “We had a four-game skid, and when his spot is up, we expect to win every time. There’s a reason that guy is one of the best pitchers and a frontrunner for the Cy Young.”

Cole didn’t walk a batter while posting his biggest strikeout total since joining the Yankees. The right-hander was outstanding throughout his first start in his native Orange County since he spurned...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Gerrit-Cole-fans-15-Yankees-beat-Angels-4-1-to-16429672.php