Yankees, Pirates Split 2-Game Doubleheader as Gonzalez Homers Off Cole and Fried Returns

Q: After losing the opener, can Max Fried's long-awaited return from injury salvage the doubleheader for the Yankees?

Yes — Fried gives the Yankees their best chance to salvage the split, but he is unlikely to do it alone. The urgency increased after New York dropped the opener 5-3 in 10 innings despite Gerrit Cole’s 11-strikeout effort. That puts added weight on Fried’s return in Game 2 against Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler, whose 4.77 ERA and major-league-leading walk total make him vulnerable if the Yankees stay patient. Fried’s track record before the injury supports optimism. He was 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA over 10 starts before going on the injured list with a left elbow bone bruise in May, and he had been one of the Yankees’ steadiest starters. His return also matters beyond one game because it restores some balance to a rotation that has been stretched by injuries. The limitation is workload. Fried is coming back after more than two months out and made only one rehab start, throwing 52 pitches. Aaron Boone is expected to treat this more like a controlled return than a full-length outing, with Will Warren likely to cover bulk innings behind him. That means the Yankees need more than just a sharp Fried; they also need clean bullpen work and better situational hitting after going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the opener. So Fried can help salvage the doubleheader, and the matchup favors New York more in Game 2 than it did in Game 1. But because he is likely on a pitch count, the outcome will depend just as much on the bullpen and the offense finishing chances.

3 articles · Updated · Newsday · Jul 23

New York and Pittsburgh split Wednesday’s separate-admission doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, with Jacob Gonzalez’s two-run homer helping decide Game 1 and Max Fried returning for Game 2.
Gerrit Cole started the opener for the Yankees, while Fried made his first start since May 13 in the nightcap and was described as dominant.
The twin bill was played after Tuesday’s game was postponed by inclement weather, forcing the clubs into their second Yankees doubleheader in four days.
Spencer Jones was also up for a one-day stint as the Yankees navigated the compressed schedule created by the rainout.