Boone Second-Guesses Himself After Cole’s Homer Costs Yankees Game to Dodgers

The New York Yankees held a one-run advantage when their star pitcher Gerrit Cole issued a walk to Mookie Betts at the start of the seventh inning Friday night. Manager Aaron Boone made his way to the mound for a brief conversation but ultimately decided to keep Cole in the game rather than turn to his bullpen.

That decision backfired moments later when Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy launched a hanging slider into the right-field upper deck, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 victory in their first return to Yankee Stadium since claiming back-to-back World Series titles in 2024. Boone took full responsibility for the choice after the contest, repeating his self-criticism multiple times during his postgame remarks.

Cole, making his 10th appearance since May following Tommy John surgery, had been dominant through six innings, allowing just three hits with eight strikeouts while shutting out Los Angeles. The right-hander entered the seventh with a three-hit shutout intact after the Yankees had scored an unearned run in the fourth inning.

That run came when Jasson Domínguez doubled off Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki, advanced to third on a fielding mistake by Andy Pages in center field, and scored when catcher Dalton Rushing allowed a passed ball. The Yankees’ lead proved insufficient as Muncy’s blast ended the evening.

Boone explained his decision-making process relied heavily on observation rather than predetermined formulas. “You’re reading body language. You’re reading conversation,” the manager said, noting he had been deliberating his choice as he walked toward the mound.

Cole believed he had earned another chance to face Muncy when Boone approached him. “I figured he was going to give me a conversation,” the 35-year-old said. “He asked me to get Muncy and I said, ‘Of course.'”

The at-bat featured several critical moments. Cole moved ahead 0-2 before Muncy fouled off a changeup and then received a ball call on a slider that Cole thought was nearly perfect. “I was like, dude, it’s so close,” Cole recalled, believing the pitch missed by less than an inch.

After fouling off another slider and taking an outside fastball, Muncy connected on Cole’s 103rd pitch of the evening, driving it 416 feet into the second deck. Cole showed minimal reaction, briefly glancing back before slapping his bare hand into his glove without watching the ball complete its flight.

“I didn’t really give the pitch a chance,” Cole said. “He pulled out a great swing.” Muncy declined to speak with reporters following the contest.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the difficulty of Boone’s in-game judgment. “It was a tough decision for Boonie,” Roberts said. “Max spoiled some good pitches and then got a pitch in his wheelhouse and put a good swing on it.”

Los Angeles improved to a major league-best 62-36 record with the victory, while the Yankees fell to 54-43. New York has struggled significantly without Aaron Judge, whose fractured rib has sidelined the star center fielder, dropping to 18-20 in games without him.

The Dodgers’ last visit to the Bronx came during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when Cole surrendered a five-run lead in the fifth inning due to unforced errors. Los Angeles won that game 7-6 and claimed the championship title.

A defensive highlight for Los Angeles came in the eighth inning when Pages and shortstop Betts combined on a spectacular play to throw out Trent Grisham attempting to score from first base on a double by Ben Rice. Pages fielded the ball on a bounce and threw to Betts, who moved left with his back to home plate and relayed the ball to Rushing for the tag.

Grisham acknowledged his hamstring concerns contributed to his baserunning approach. The outfielder, who returned July 3 from a strained right hamstring, said he was “conscious” of the injury while running out the double, initially taking a measured pace before accelerating.