Gerrit Cole's Uncharacteristic Night & Why Baseball Is Not Forgiving

Last night, Yankee fans witnessed a rare and unsettling sight: Gerrit Cole, the ace of the pitching staff and a former Cy Young winner, gave up four home runs to the Mets. While this performance was spread over four innings, it brought back uncomfortable memories of a similarly painful night for the Yankees back on April 22, 2007, when Chase Wright surrendered four consecutive home runs to the Boston Red Sox.

Wright’s feat is etched in the annals of Yankee history as one of the more bizarre and unfortunate pitching performances. Allowing four home runs in a row is a rarity in baseball, a sport that thrives on its unpredictability. Wright was a relatively new pitcher in the major leagues at the time, and that night in Fenway Park remains a stark reminder of how quickly a game can turn.

Cole’s situation, however, is different in several ways. As one of the top pitchers in the game, he has built a career on consistency and dominance. The four home runs he allowed to the Mets are spread out over four innings, rather than consecutive at-bats, which highlights another form of struggle that pitchers can face. What makes this situation particularly noteworthy is that Cole had just returned from a stint on the injured list.

Injuries in baseball are common, and the road to recovery can be fraught with challenges. Even a pitcher of Cole’s caliber needs time to regain his rhythm and full effectiveness. The Yankees and their fans understand this, yet witnessing such a performance from their ace is still disconcerting. It serves as a reminder of the physical and mental hurdles players must overcome when returning from injury.

Baseball is fickle that way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Cy Young winner or a fresh face in the majors—this sport has a way of humbling even the best. One night you’re untouchable, and the next, you’re struggling to keep the ball in the park. This unpredictability is part of what makes baseball the greatest game in the world. Every game is a new story, filled with potential for both triumph and disappointment.

For Gerrit Cole, this game will likely be a blip in an otherwise stellar career. For fans, it’s a reminder of the sport’s inherent unpredictability and the reason why we watch, captivated by the drama that unfolds on the diamond. Whether it’s Chase Wright in 2007 or Gerrit Cole in 2024, these moments of vulnerability make the moments of brilliance all the more meaningful.

–Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor