Yankees: Gerrit Cole, DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner give NYY the start they need

The Yankees are out to a quick lead over the Orioles on Friday.

The one-game winning streak really has the New York Yankees playing differently! It feels like we haven’t seen any legitimate first-inning pop from the Bombers in a while, but they got it on Friday during the first game of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Gerrit Cole getting off to a torrid start, just like he did his last time out against the O’s. The righty absolutely mowed down Baltimore in his first two frames on just 34 pitches (and it should’ve been fewer thanks to an error).

This is what Yankees fans love to see after his struggles this season.

https://twitter.com/TalkinYanks/status/1304513651857141760?s=20

After his impressive 1-2-3 first inning, Cole got that early run support the pitching staff has so desperately needed. DJ LeMahieu cranked a leadoff homer against Alex Cobb to get the scoring started. Then, after a Luke Voit single, Brett Gardner (yup!!) deposited one over the short porch in right field to make it 3-0 in a flash.

Machine kicks things off. pic.twitter.com/cBogriCMMc
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 11, 2020

And that homer from Gardy came in the three-hole!

THREE HOLE GARDY GOES DEEP! pic.twitter.com/nHVychOuuP
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 11, 2020

For now, we won’t criticize it since it yielded results and Gardy’s been making good contact this week, but he’s batting .173, which isn’t exactly representative of that spot in the lineup.

Quick update, though: Kyle Higashioka went deep in the bottom of the second inning to make it 5-0 after a Mike Tauchman single! The Yankees are rolling!

Kyle Higashioka hits his first homer of the season. #Yankees now lead 5-0 in the second. pic.twitter.com/pz5CrhsyMi
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) September 11, 2020

On the 19th anniversary of Sept. 11, this is truly the start New York needed with a long weekend ahead. The Yankees have to make their city proud on such a somber day, especially with all of the recent struggles the team has endured.

Nail this one shut, then there will be three to go. Coming out of this weekend on top is of the utmost importance.

Yankees: Sept. 10, 2001 and the last normal Yanks-Red Sox rainout

For as long as he lives, this author will remember waiting all day to watch the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox on 9/10/2001.

The Yankees are out to a quick lead over the Orioles on Friday.

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