Gerrit Cole officially got his first Bronx cheer as the Yankees season continues to hit new lows.
The Bombers’ $324 million ace was booed off the mound at Yankee Stadium on Sunday — the first game of a split doubleheader against the Mets — after Cole failed to get out of the fourth inning despite being spotted a 4-1 lead.
Cole allowed three of his four earned runs in the fourth inning, managing just one out while walking two and allowing three hits before he was taken out of the game with one out and the bases loaded for Jonathan Loaisiga to come in.
Yankees fans, frustrated with how the season has gone, began to boo their prized possession who was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle to a championship team just a year ago.
Loaisiga allowed another run to score for the Mets to tie the game at 4 but managed to escape a bases-loaded jam himself to keep the game tied.
Meanwhile, it was Cole’s worst start since signing with the Yankees before last season and shortest start since he lasted just two innings on Sept. 12, 2016.
Gerrit Cole's shortest start as a Yankee, and his shortest start since Sept. 12, 2016 (2.0 IP). Only the third time in his career he failed to get through 4 innings.
— Seth Rothman (@SethDRothman) July 4, 2021
Cole has not been the same pitcher since MLB began enforcing rules prohibiting pitchers from using sticky substances to enhance their spin rate.
Cole had already entered Sunday’s game with a 4.65 ERA over his last five starts. He had a 1.78 ERA at the end of May but left Sunday’s game with a 2.91 ERA.
The Yankees' supposed ace was not the only one to hear it from the home crowd, either.
Despite Cole's shortcomings, the Yankees led 5-4 and had a chance to win the game and brought Aroldis Chapman in for the save. He gave up a leadoff home run to Pete Alonso before hitting Michael Conforto and walking Jeff McNeil before Aarone Boone gave him the hook.
Chapman left to a chorus of boos as he has now blown the save in each of his last two outings.
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