Max Muncy 2-run homer ruins Gerrit Cole pitching gem in Dodgers' 2-1 win over Yankees

Gerrit Cole was pitching a gem against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

>Cole had pitched six scoreless innings, holding the Dodgers to 3 hits with 8 strikeouts and protecting a 1-0 lead.

>But then the seventh inning began. Cole fell behind Mookie Betts on a three-balls, no-strikes count. He battled back with two called strikes to make it a full count, but then missed far outside with a 98 mph to walk Betts.

After 97 pitches and going through the Dodgers’ batting order for a third time, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ready to pull Cole. But after Boone came out to the mound, the 13-year veteran convinced his manager to stay in the game.

>Facing Max Muncy, Cole got ahead on a zero-balls, two-strikes count. But the Dodgers’ third baseman stayed alive by fouling off a changeup and slider. With a 2-2 count, Cole then missed with a 91 mph slider, leaving it in the middle of the strike zone.

>Muncy pounced on the gift from Cole, launching it into Yankee Stadium’s right-field second deck. And he knew he tagged that pitch hard, walking down the first-base line to watch the ball leave the park.

>The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead and Cole’s night was over.

>The Yankees thought they had the tying run in the eighth inning. Trent Grisham drew a one-out walk versus Alex Vesla after falling behind on an 0-2 count. Vesla then left an 85 mph slider in the middle of the zone to Ben Rice, who hit it deep to center field.

>The ball caromed off the base of the wall in right-center field and was fielded by Andy Pages. Pages then fired a throw to Betts, who threw a relay to Dalton Rushing at home plate to get Grisham out.

On a double, Pages' throw fades on Mookie, who goes to get it and make a great relay. Rushing redeems himself by making a great tag on a throw that's way behind him. Dodgers still lead. Wow. pic.twitter.com/N1F7bjn7VB

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 18, 2026Grisham was clearly out but the Yankees challenged the play, arguing that Rushing had blocked the plate and didn’t give the runner a lane to the plate. But review showed that wasn’t the case and the out call was upheld.

>With first base open, Vesla intentionally walked Paul Goldschmidt to face Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers’ left-hander threw a 92 mph fastball in the high middle of the zone, but Bellinger flew out to center field to make the strategy pay off.

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