Gerrit Cole sends a message to Yankees after the defeat against Rays

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Gerrit Cole came out of the first game of the divisional series with a performance that would normally have placed the Yankees in an excellent position to win.

The right-hander allowed only one run in five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, but New York failed to produce offensively and ended up falling 1-0 to start the ALDS at a disadvantage.

After the match, Cole did not want to turn defeat into a search for culprits. His message was focused on the mentality that the Yankees will need for the rest of the series and on the team's ability to respond after receiving the first hit.

The idea conveyed by Cole was clear: in October it is not enough to endure difficult times. You also have to find a way to answer.

Gerrit Cole asks Yankees to react after game 1

The defeat was especially frustrating because the Yankees were inside the match during the nine innings.

Tampa Bay also did not produce a large number of races. In fact, he only needed a Jonathan Aranda swing to take the ultimate advantage.

That left New York always at a distance race.

Cole understands that this type of meeting is part of the reality of the postseason. There are nights when the rival executes practically all of his plan and forces the other team to accept the result, make the necessary adjustments and prepare to respond.

In the message picked up after the match, the veteran used a very clear comparison of the mentality his team needs: “In the postseason you have to put up with the blows, but you also have to give them.”

Now the Yankees will have the opportunity to prove exactly that.

Cole did his job from the mound

The starter's performance was one of the positive aspects of the first meeting.

Cole worked five innings, allowed five hits, a clean run and a walk, plus finishing with five strikeouts.

For much of the night he had to throw under pressure, but he managed to prevent Tampa Bay from building a big inning.

The only damage came in the third episode.

With a 2-2 count, Cole tried to place a change down and out against Jonathan Aranda. The launch was barely higher than planned and the Tampa Bay hitter turned it into a lone home run.

It was the only mistake that really ended up costing him.

A single shot decided the match

In October, the margin between a grand opening and a defeat can be minimal.

Aranda's home run ended up representing the only race of the match.

After that hit, Cole regained control and did not allow scoring again.

His presentation ended up being exactly the type of performance that the Yankees expected when Aaron Boone decided to give him the ball to open the divisional series.

The problem was that on the other side Drew Rasmussen was making an even more dominant presentation.

Rasmussen forced Cole to be practically perfect

Drew Rasmussen kept the Yankees without hits until two outs were left in the eighth inning.

Tampa Bay's right-hander completed eight unallowed runs, finished with 10 strikeouts, and gave only one hit.

That turned Cole's allowed career into a huge difference.

In any other match, a five-inning start and a permitted run may be enough to give the team an excellent victory chance.

This time, Cole practically needed a whitewash.

Cole recognized the great performance of the rival

After the game, the Yankees starter also recognized what happened on the other side.

Rasmussen had one of those nights when a pitcher dominates all aspects of the match.

Cole admitted that it was a difficult defeat, but also pointed out that there are times when you simply have to recognize the rival's work.

The reaction reflects the experience of a pitcher who understands that a series of postseasons is not decided by a single match.

The Yankees lost Game 1.

The question now is how they will react.

The offensive left Gerrit Cole alone

The main concern for New York was not on the mound.

The Yankees finished with a single hit throughout the match.

Austin Wells broke Rasmussen's no-hit attempt with a double in the eighth, but was eliminated trying to advance to third.

After that, New York never seriously put Tampa Bay's advantage again.

That performance contrasted completely with what happened during the Wild Card against Boston, when the Yankees scored 18 runs and hit 26 hits in just two games.

The offensive that dominated the Red Sox disappeared against Rasmussen.

Cole wanted to continue launching

The starter exit after five inputs also generated conversation.

Cole had made 82 releases and expressed that he felt ready to continue.

However, Boone decided to use a completely rested bullpen, especially considering that the Yankees would have a day off before Game 2.

Cole later explained that, although he wanted to stay at the meeting, he ended up agreeing with the decision after talking with the leader.

The relay did its job and kept Tampa Bay without races for the rest of the match.

That confirms again that the New York problem was mainly in offensive production.

The battle against Junior Caminero showed the best version of Cole

One of the most intense moments of his presentation came during the fifth inning against Junior Caminero.

Cole quickly took advantage of 0-2, but the dangerous Tampa Bay hitter managed to extend the turn until the score was completed.

Caminero continued to connect Fouls and forcing Cole to execute launch after launch.

Finally, the right-hander got a strike sung with his curve to end the battle and close his performance.

Cole reacted with obvious emotion as he left the mound.

It was the end of an opening in which he had delivered practically everything New York needed.

The Yankees can't waste another way out like this

Cole's presentation also leaves a warning for the rest of the series.

Pitching can keep New York in games, but it can't win without races.

If the Yankees receive five, six, or seven quality entries from their starters, the offense has to find a way to respond.

A team with aspirations to reach the World Series can't depend on winning every match 1-0.

That places greater responsibility on Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis García Jr., George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Austin Wells and the rest of the available hitters.

Aaron Judge's absence continues to weigh

Aaron Judge is not part of the ALDS roster as he continues to recover from his right calf injury.

The Yankees have already shown that they can produce without their captain.

But in front of a pitcher who is dominating like Rasmussen, the absence of a batter capable of transforming a game with a single swing is inevitably felt.

That can't become an excuse.

New York built this roster knowing that Judge would not be available and now he needs to get production from the group he has on the ground.

Cole's message goes beyond a defeat

The importance of Gerrit Cole's statements is not only in what happened during the first game.

It's in the way the Yankees will respond.

A postseason always includes difficult times.

A team can lose a closed match.

You may meet a dominant pitcher.

You can make a mistake by running the foundations.

You can end up in a series.

The important thing is to prevent a defeat from becoming two.

Now the responsibility passes to Cam Schlittler

Cam Schlittler will be in charge of opening Game 2 for New York.

After his dominant performance against Boston in the Wild Card, the young right will have the responsibility to try to match the divisional series.

But the lesson of Game 1 is obvious.

Schlittler cannot be forced to throw a perfect match.

Cole allowed only one run and ended up losing.

The Yankees need to offer their next starter a bigger margin.

The Yankists: Now it's time to hit back

from the perspective of The Yankists, Gerrit Cole's message perfectly describes the moment of the series.

The Yankees received the first blow.

Rasmussen dominoes.

The offensive produced only one hit.

Wells made a major mistake by running the bases.

And Tampa Bay took advantage 1-0.

All that has already happened.

Now the answer matters.

The Yankees still have a chance to return to the Bronx with the tied series and completely change the ALDS landscape.

To do this, they will need to keep the good work from the mound and find a much more offensive than the one that appeared against Boston.

Cole did his part in Game 1.

Now the message remains for the whole team:

Holding the blow is not enough; You also have to answer.