NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole struck out eight in six strong innings, Juan Soto went 4 for 4 and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Friday night.
Cole (3-1), making his sixth start since returning from right elbow inflammation on June 20, allowed one run and six hits on a night fans received a promotional bobblehead of the 33-year-old right-hander holding his Cy Young Award. He walked one and threw 103 pitches — reaching the 100 mark for the second straight outing.
''I had a little bit of everything working and then once we got a lead I started attacking the zone,'' said Cole, who is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA in his last four outings.
''Just a great way to come out of the All-Star break and set the tone for us where our ace goes out and gives up one run in six innings to set the tone for us,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ''I thought he was sharp and I thought he had a lot of different ways to get you out tonight.''
Soto reached base five times and continued his personal success against Tampa Bay starter Zach Eflin (5-7) with three hits, including a bunt single in New York's four-run third and a double in the inning when he scored after two Rays errors. Soto is hitting .500 (17 for 34) off Eflin, whom he faced often when the right-hander was with the Phillies and he was with Washington.
''I don't know,'' Soto said of his success off Eflin. ''I just see mistakes. So I think he's made a couple of mistakes and I just hammered it.''
Soto added his fourth hit of the game, leading off the sixth with a double off Shawn Armstrong. He scored on an RBI single by Aaron Judge.
Soto had his second four-hit game since joining the Yankees in a December trade from the Padres. It was the right fielder's ninth career four-hit game and his average climbed from .295 to .303. In his first chance at getting a fifth hit, Soto drew a walk in the eighth.
