The Yankees have danced around the likelihood that Gerrit Cole and Kyle Higashioka will continue to be paired for the foreseeable future, but after another solid effort together, the results seem to be making that statement for them.
Cole retired the final 15 batters he faced and Higashioka supported his ace with a two-homer performance, and the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays, 3-1, on Monday evening at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.
Gary Sánchez was behind the plate for Cole’s Opening Day start, also against Toronto, but the right-hander’s last two outings have come with Higashioka behind the dish.
As they did down the stretch last year, when Higashioka caught Cole’s final four regular-season starts and three more in the postseason, the tandem just clicks. After allowing a run in the first inning, Cole settled in, not permitting a baserunner after Rowdy Tellez’s single in the second.
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].