OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Gerrit Cole fine-tuned for the playoffs by holding the Athletics to one run in nine innings and Juan Soto came off the bench to hit an RBI double in the 10th for the New York Yankees, who won 4-2 Friday in the first game of the final series in Oakland’s history.
Cole (7-5) was sharp after taking a hit in Saturday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox. He allowed two hits and walked one.
He struck out seven and needed just 99 pitches to get past the sixth inning for the first time since blanking the Toronto Blue Jays in his final start of 2023.
Cole earned the win thanks in part to a rare pinch-hitting appearance by Soto, who was scratched from the starting lineup with left leg soreness after sliding into a wall at the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.
After Shea Langeliers’ passed ball allowed the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, Soto connected off TJ McFarland (2-4) for a 3-1 lead. Soto is 2-for-10 with four RBIs in 13 career pinch-hit appearances.
Anthony Volpe added his second RBI single of the game to cap the three-run 10th inning.
For the Yankees, Dominicans Juan Soto went 1-for-1 with one RBI, Jasson Dominguez went 0-for-1 with one run scored. Venezuelans Oswaldo Cabrera went 1-for-1 with one run scored, Gleyber Torres went 1-for-5.
