Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees pitched a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here are three of his most effective pitches from the game.
On Monday, June 20, there was a lot of important sports news in Tampa Bay. In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning faced the Colorado Avalanche. The Rays were playing the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field, and it was an important matchup.
The Yankees’ ace pitcher, Gerrit Cole, pitched a no-hitter into the eighth inning, striking out 12 batters. Cole, though, gave up a single to Isaac Paredes in the first at-bat, ending his no-hitter attempt.
Despite this, Cole put on a fantastic performance that might help him climb the AL Cy Young standings. Here are three of the finest strikeouts he had on the night, out of a total of 12.
3. Randy Arozarena was struck out by painting the corner
At the end of the first inning, Cole found a way to really set the tone. The Yankees’ ace had to face Randy Arozarena after walking Ji-Man Choi with two outs on the board. Cole struck out the young Rays star with a 97.8-mph fastball that neatly painted the corner with a 2-2 count.
Cole’s first of many strikeouts on Monday night.
2. Manuel Margot was hit with a 90-mph slider in the fourth inning.
Cole had six strikeouts by the time the bottom of the fourth inning began. To begin with, he had to deal with Manuel Margot. Margot would foul off a 98.5 mph four-seamer on the fifth pitch of the at-bat. The next time he pitched, Cole tried to trick Margot by throwing a 90 mph slider.
1. This is my 12th strikeout
Cole’s final strikeout was the filthiest of the night. The Yankees right-hander blasted a high 97-mph fastball over the top corner of the batter’s box with Brett Phillips within the batter’s box. Phillips attempted everything he could to make contact, but he couldn’t.
Cole may not have pitched a no-hitter, but he still put up a great showing against the Yankees’ division rivals.
