BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Gerrit Cole pounded the strike zone in his second rehab start.
The Yankees ace took the mound after four days of rest against the same Double-A hitters he faced in his rehab start earlier this week, pitching 4 2/3 innings against the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark, throwing 44 of his 57 pitches for strikes, allowing one run and striking out four as he continued his preparation for a return to the MLB.
The question is whether Cole wants to get another tune-up or two in the minor leagues before making his season debut with the first-place Yankees, who were sidelined during spring training with an elbow injury.
Cole’s sixth pitch of the game, and his first to Rockies prospect Ryan Ritter, was thrown at 91 mph, according to the radar gun on the unofficial scoreboard at TD Bank Ballpark, but it flew over the left-field fence at much faster than that.
The defending American League Cy Young Award winner topped 96 mph once and 95 mph five times.
After the home run, the only hit against Cole was a sharp single to center field. Cole survived a two-out, runners-on-second jam in the second inning and struck out the final two batters he faced to bring his total to four. His fastball seemed to get a little more lively as he wore off.
Cole threw 34 of 45 pitches in his first rehab appearance at Somerset on Tuesday, allowing no runs in 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and a top speed of 97 mph.
Yankees’ Spencer Jones has gotten off to a slow start this season, but the No. 2 prospect hit a home run to tie the game and prevent Cole from losing.
About 100 fans lined the right field line to watch Cole’s pregame relief pitch, and when he finished, the rest of the Patriots pitching staff joined in for a round of applause.
