Yankees' Gerrit Cole solid in abbreviated season debut

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NEW YORK -- New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole's long-awaited season debut in an divisional clash Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles went as expected: sharp, with a touch of rust, and abbreviated.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner, diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in March, was charged with two runs on three hits in four-plus innings at Yankee Stadium. The 34-year-old right-hander compiled five strikeouts to one walk and threw 62 pitches. He touched 97 mph with his fastball and induced six swing-and-misses.

Before the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone declined to share Cole's pitch limit, not wanting to give the Orioles a…