Cole Shines in Yankees' Victory Over Tigers

DETROIT — Gerrit Cole's recent performance has alleviated concerns following his last-minute scratch from a start due to "general body fatigue" on trade deadline day. The New York Yankees ace showcased his potential for a strong finish to the season, delivering his first scoreless outing of the year with six shutout innings in a 3-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Cole struck out eight batters and allowed only six base runners, marking a significant improvement as he aims to regain his form after an injury-plagued start to the season. In his last three starts since being sidelined, Cole has posted an impressive 1.59 ERA, accumulating 22 strikeouts over 17 innings. This outing was particularly notable as it was only the third time this season he completed six innings, a feat he struggled to achieve earlier in the year due to elbow nerve inflammation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone had previously limited Cole's pitch count, but on Friday, he reached 95 pitches, culminating in a strikeout that left two runners stranded in the sixth inning. The Yankees' offense provided support with a first-inning lead and two solo home runs, including Oswald Peraza's first of the season and Aaron Judge's 44th home run, bringing his career total to 301. Despite a shaky seventh inning, the Yankees secured their third consecutive win, improving their record to 73-50 as they continue to push for a strong finish in the playoff race.