TAMPA -- Having Gerrit Cole walk off the mound mid at-bat in the first inning would usually mean disaster for the New York Yankees. But spring training is different.
Cole, making his spring debut Friday night, gave up a two-run home run and a triple before manager Aaron Boone pulled him during a 1-2 count six batters into the Yankees' 8-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
But the Yankees' ace reappeared in the second inning -- that's allowed in spring training -- to smoothly complete his workday, retiring the side in order and facing two more hitters in the third inning.