Yankees ride five-run first inning to 9-2 win over Diamondbacks

· Yahoo Sports

The Yankees' offense scored five first-inning runs, en route to a 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night in Arizona.

With the win and the Rays' loss earlier in the evening, the Yankees are 4.0 games behind Tampa for first place in the AL East. 

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Here are the takeaways...

-The Yankees got to Eduardo Rodriguez early, loading the bases (walk, single, walk) with no outs in the first. Ben Rice worked his way back from a 1-2 count to walk and force in the game's first run. Amed Rosario, starting at third base, blooped a single to drive in a run. Spencer Jones struck out before a passed ball allowed Heliot Ramos to score from third. George Lombard Jr. followed up with a two-run single to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead. 

-Gerrit Cole, after allowing seven home runs in his last two starts, had a shutdown 12-pitch first inning after the Yankees gave him that five-run lead. However, the longball would bite Cole in the second, when Corbin Carroll launched a two-run shot to put Arizona on the board.

But that's all Cole would give up in six strong innings. He allowed those two runs on four hits, no walks, while striking out six, a great bounceback performance from the right-hander.

-Rice smashed his 39th home run of the season off the southpaw Rodriguez in the third. The homer went 390 feet over the left center field wall. He now has five homers in his last 22 games. Rice finished 2-for-3 with the home run and a triple. 

Lombard's productive day wasn't done either, as the rookie launched a solo shot in the sixth to knock Rodriguez out of the game. 

-The Yankees pushed across two more runs in the seventh off former ace Zac Gallen, making his first career relief appearance after he was moved to the bullpen after a terrible 2026, thanks to an error and a failed double-play attempt.

-In relief of Cole, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Fulmer and Luis Gil got the final nine outs. Yarbrough worked out of trouble after giving up two hits in the seventh and Gil worked out of an inning where he allowed two baserunners.

-With Aaron Judge on the IL for the foreseeable future, the rest of the Yankees outfield's production will be under a microscope. Cody Bellinger (1-5), Jones (0-4, RBI) and Ramos (0-2, 2 BB) combined to go 1-for-11. 

Jones, in particular, is struggling. He went hitless again and struck out two more times. He's now struck out nine times in his last four games.

Game MVP: Gerrit Cole

The Yankees and the right-hander needed this start, to instill confidence that Cole has not lost it. He also helped give the bullpen a rest after the 13-inning game on Wednesday. 

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and D-backs continue their three-game set Saturday night. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m.

Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) takes the mound and goes up against Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.77 ERA). 

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