Aug 8, 2020; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays of the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Game One-New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Gerrit Cole came within one strike of earning his 20th straight regular-season win before getting pulled as the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays split a pair of seven-inning games in a doubleheader. Cole, who had won his first three starts since signing a $324 million, nine-year contract in the offseason, took a 5-0 lead into the fifth in the Yankees’ 8-4 win in the opener, but departed before the inning ended due to a high pitch count. Austin Meadows had a key two-run single in the fourth inning to help the Rays take the second game 5-3.