Starting on opening day against the Boston Red Sox is challenge enough, but New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had another obstacle ahead of him when he took the field: Billy Crystal.
Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox experienced a bit of confusing drama early in the game when Cole was visibly upset at the delay caused by the ceremonial first pitch from the legendary actor/comedian and die-hard Yankees fan.
Per MLB.com’s Bryan Hocha collection of pre-game celebrations, culminating in the first pitch of the crystal had resulted in the game starting four minutes later than scheduled at 1:12 p.m. ET. Cole could be seen shouting from the dugout steps while waiting to take the field:
This conflict heralded a rough start for Cole, allowing the first four batsmen to hit base in a three-run first inning for the Red Sox. Cole managed to recover and finished with three earned runs in four innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
The Yankees would eventually win in extra innings thanks to a walk-off single by Josh Donaldson in his Yankees debut.
Cole confirmed the slow start after the game:
“Hard settling in. Obviously the first four pitches weren’t really competitive and then frankly got burned on some pretty good fastball sites in the first. They put some pretty great swings on it. Luckily we were able to settle in after that and give us one chance of winning.”
When asked about the pregame ceremony delay, Cole had some interesting words for it:
“It was an unforeseen challenge. The celebrations got a bit off schedule.”
Starting pitchers, at least some of them, are known for sticking to strict pregame routines, and it seems Cole would fit well into that group. Anyway, we now bring you back to what the Yankees had to say about their season.
Cole, 31, is in the third season of his nine-year, $324 million contract with a 3.11 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings in his first two seasons. He has made the top five in the Cy Young Awards poll for both years.
Gerrit Cole’s third season with the Yankees got off to a rocky start. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)