NEW YORK -- Gerrit Cole pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball on Sunday in his second start for Double-A Somerset, another step toward returning to the New York Yankees' rotation.
The 33-year-old Cole allowed two hits, struck out four and walked one against Hartford, retiring his last eight batters. The AL Cy Young Award winner threw 44 of 57 pitches for strikes at Bridgewater Township, New Jersey.
Ryan Ritter, Cole's second batter, drove an inside fastball on Cole's sixth pitch over the left-field wall for his fifth homer of the season and second in three days.