ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gerrit Cole got a reprieve and then he got creamed. The Yankees ace, looking to close out a sweep of the Rays, gave up a season-high eight runs as the team allowed 10 runs in the sixth and was blown out, 14-0, at Tropicana Field on Thursday.
The Yankees (53-47) had won the series Wednesday night, taking the first two out of three. They are now 5-4 at Tropicana Field this season and 7-9 against the Rays (61-42) overall this season.
Cole allowed eight runs, seven earned, on six hits, including a home run. He walked two and struck out 10. It was one run shy of the most Cole has allowed in his career. It was also his eighth double-digit strikeout game.
The Yankees lineup was shut down by 21-year old Luis Patino, the right-hander the Rays got back from San Diego after trading Cy Young winner Blake Snell there this winter. Patino pitched six scoreless, three-hit innings. He walked two and struck out eight.
It was the sixth time this season the Yankees’ offense was shut out; the last time was July 16 against the Red Sox.
After winning two big, one-run games here on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Yankees were hoping their ace could get them rolling.
Instead, he imploded.
It was the most runs the Yankees have allowed this season and the 10-run sixth inning was the most they allowed in a frame this year. It is the most runs in an inning since last September when they allowed 10 in an inning against the Blue Jays in Buffalo.
Cole gave up what initially looked like a leadoff home run to Brandon Lowe in the first, but it was overturned on replay. Lowe eventually legged out a single and scored on a Yandy Diaz single. But Cole would not escape the first without giving up a homer. Austin Meadow hammered his first of the game, a three run-shot to put the Yankees in a 4-0 hole.
The Yankees ace settled down after that — for four innings. He retired seven straight and 16 out of 17 straight Rays. Meadows came back to bite him again with a one-out single in the sixth, followed by a Randy Arozarena single and then Cole walked 20-year-old rookie Wander Franco to load the bases.
Kevin Kiermaier lofted a fly ball to the warning track in left field that popped out of Brett Gardner’s glove, allowing two runs to score. Cole crouched down over his knees in frustration as Aaron Boone walked out to take him out.
Albert Abreu gave up six runs on three homers without getting an out before Boone had to go back to his bullpen and Sal Romano finally got the Yankees out of the inning.
