Yankees ace Gerrit Cole exits game with left hamstring tightness
Gerrit Cole may have a hamstring issue, and the New York Yankees can only hold their breath.
The Yankees ace exited Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with left hamstring tightness, the team announced during the game.
Gerrit Cole left tonight's game with left hamstring tightness.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 8, 2021
Cole was pulled in the fourth inning after signaling to the dugout that he had a problem. At that point, he had struggled through 3.2 innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out two and walking two.
Gerrit Cole leaves the game after he signals to the dugout... pic.twitter.com/URdqKjYOeI
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 8, 2021
The Yankees would eventually lose 5-1, their eighth loss in their last 10 games.
Any time missed for Cole would be brutal for the Yankees, who currently sit in the first wild-card position, but are just a half-game ahead of the Boston Red Sox and two games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays to make the playoffs at all.
Cole entered Tuesday as a legitimate Cy Young contender with a 2.73 ERA in 155 innings and the AL lead in wins (14), strikeouts (215) and WHIP (0.968).