Gerrit Cole throws over batter's head then wags his finger, a breakdown

Jun 21, 2023 1.4M views 5:56

What Happened

Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees takes the mound against Jarred Kelenic of the Seattle Mariners in a key late-season matchup. The Yankees hold a slim lead in a tight game. In Kelenic's first at-bat, Cole wastes a curveball on the outside before blowing a fastball by him for the strikeout. Kelenic responds with some showmanship, flipping his bat and twirling it before heading back to the dugout. When Kelenic steps to the plate again, he immediately calls time, trying to disrupt Cole's rhythm. But Cole doesn't grant the request, firing a 97 mph fastball past Kelenic. The two then engage in a brief standoff, with Kelenic tapping his bat and twirling it as Cole waits patiently on the mound. Finally, Cole ramps up the intensity, firing a 98 mph heater that breaks Kelenic's bat. In Kelenic's third at-bat, he takes issue with a called strike and walks away from the plate, frustrating Cole. The right-hander then unleashes a 99 mph fastball, clearly annoyed by Kelenic's antics. The pitch sails high and tight, nearly hitting Kelenic in the head. Mariners manager Scott Servais immediately begins yelling and wagging his finger at Cole, upset by the intentionally wild pitch. Cole fires back, wagging his own finger and shouting, "You don't know that! You don't do that!" The two engage in a heated exchange before order is restored. "Sometimes a high fastball can be a really effective pitch," Cole says afterward. "I've gotta change eye levels. It's not every day we see pointing at the other dugout and shaking your finger there." Servais was clearly displeased, telling Cole, "Don't do that, Gerrit. Don't do that." But Cole stands his ground, refusing to back down from the confrontation. Despite the drama, Cole settles in and strikes out Kelenic swinging to end the at-bat. The Yankees hold on to win the important divisional matchup, but the heated exchange between Cole and Servais is sure to be a talking point long after the final out.

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we got some fun Petty drama in the

Yankees game tonight call versus the

nine hole hitter Caballero for the

Mariners did I say that correctly O2

wastes a curve on the outside one and