Gerrit Cole Strikes Out Five, But Lasts Just Two Innings

Indianapolis Indians righty Gerrit Cole was in trouble from the outset, as Toledo was on him before the echoes of the National Anthem could fade at Victory Field in Indianapolis.   Two Toledo runners reached in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates Great Ace Hope of the future after Cole got the leadoff man looking.

The fireballing Cole got out of the situation by doing what he does best—striking out the side.

But in the second inning, a leadoff bomb by first baseman Jordan Lennerton put the Mud Hens on the board with a 1-0 lead.  Danny Worth followed with a double, but Cole caught Argenis Diaz looking and Brad Davis swinging for the second out.

A walk and a single followed before a groundout ended the threat – and the day – for the Buccos top prospect.  Cole gave up four hits and walked two while striking out five.  The solo homer was the only run he allowed in his two innings of work.

It took 63 pitches for Cole to get those six outs.  42 pitches went for strikes.

The Tribe came right back in the bottom of the second, and put up five runs on the score board and received seven innings of nice relief work from their bullpen to get the 7-2 victory and raise their record to five wins and two losses on the season after the sweep of the Mud Hens, who dropped to 1-6 on the year.

Indy has put up five straight wins and now sits in first place in the International League West Division, heading into the games on the schedule tonight.

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