Gerrit Cole strikes out 10, throws 6 2/3 scoreless innings in second start back as Yankees cruise past Royals

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has pitched 12 2/3 innings since making his long-awaited return to the bigs. The right-handed hurler still hasn’t allowed a run.

He spun 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball on Wednesday night, allowing just four hits and striking out 10 batters without issuing a walk in a 7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals.

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The 35-year-old Cole tossed 79 pitches, seven more than he fired in his six-inning season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays this past Friday.

To no fault of his own, the Yankees fell to the Rays that day, on which he made his first major-league appearance since the 2024 World Series. But on Wednesday, New York emerged victorious, with Cole picking up his first win of the 2026 campaign. His ERA remains perfect through two starts.

The Yankees (34-22) completed the sweep in Kansas City, where the Royals (22-34) continued to slide. After beginning the season 19-21, they’ve gone 3-13 since.

This story is being updated.