Rays Beat Yankees 4-2 as Gerrit Cole Throws 6 Scoreless Innings in Season Debut

11 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 22

Tampa Bay erased a 1-0 deficit in the eighth and beat New York 4-2, stretching its AL East lead over the Yankees to 5½ games.
Cole, making his first appearance since the 2024 World Series after missing all of 2025 following Tommy John surgery, allowed two hits over six scoreless innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
New York's bullpen unraveled after José Caballero's error put the leadoff man aboard; Jonathan Aranda tied it with a double and Richie Palacios followed with a go-ahead two-run single off Tim Hill.
Austin Wells homered for the Yankees, and Aaron Judge represented the tying run in the ninth, but Cedric Mullins caught his 396-foot drive to end it.
The return still gave the 30-21 Yankees a needed boost from their 2023 AL Cy Young winner, who is in year seven of a nine-year, $324 million deal.

Gerrit Cole's $47M comeback was flawless. Can the Yankees' bullpen be trusted to support their ace this season?

Austin Wells is now an elite defensive catcher. Can he elevate his hitting to become the All-Star the Yankees need?

José Caballero’s key error cost the Yankees. Do his declining stats signal a bigger problem for the team's infield defense?