Cole (6-5) took the loss Saturday as the Yankees were downed 7-1 by the Red Sox, surrendering seven runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two and hit three batters with pitches.
The veteran righty threw only 38 of 68 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, and things began to unravel for Cole after he intentionally walked long-time nemesis Rafael Devers with the bases empty in the fourth inning -- a move that the rest of the Boston lineup seemed to take personally. It's the first time since July 6 that Cole has failed to last at least five innings, a 10-start stretch in which he's posted a 2.34 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 66:16 K:BB through 57.2 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Oakland.