Gerrit Cole, making his eighth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, defied manager Aaron Boone's initial intention to remove him from the game, pitching five innings and allowing two runs to help the New York Yankees end a seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on July 3, 2026.

Cole expressed that the team's need for a win superseded his individual performance. "Screw coming back. We needed this win today," Cole stated after the game. "You’ve got to do hard stuff in this league sometimes. Sometimes it’s not fun. It’s not fun to sit around for an hour and 20 minutes, throwing bullpens, but it’s what was needed."

The game faced a nearly hour-long rain delay after the top of the third inning. During the 53-minute stoppage, Cole threw four simulated innings in 10-minute intervals. Boone, in consultation with pitching staff, decided to allow Cole to continue pitching in the fourth inning based on his input.

Boone had planned to remove Cole after the fourth inning, with the Yankees leading by one run and Cole at 78 pitches. However, Cole made it clear he intended to stay in the game. "He definitely was going to take me out and I definitely wasn’t coming out," Cole said. Boone acknowledged Cole's determination, adding, "He was not having it, which was great."

Cole allowed a double in the fourth but managed to get out of the inning, preserving the lead. Boone praised his ace's resolve, stating, "Once he fought for it, it was his. He finished strong."

While Cole's outing was not dominant, he recorded seven strikeouts and no walks. This performance marked an improvement over his previous four starts, during which he had allowed nine runs in 9 2/3 innings and posted a 6.12 ERA. Cole noted he returned to using his four-seam fastball more frequently, which yielded positive results.

The Yankees' victory was particularly important as they were without key players like Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodón, and were in the midst of a seven-game losing streak. With Rodón on the injured list, the team relied on Cole to provide as many effective innings as possible.