Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees Box Score on Aug 16, 2021

Gerrit Cole pitched 5 2/3 strong innings in his return from the COVID-19 injured list and the New York Yankees edged the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 in a makeup game Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 13 games and moved within two games of the Boston Red Sox for the American League's second wild-card spot. New York opens a three-game series with the Red Sox by hosting a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday.

Cole (11-6) allowed one run and two hits in his first start since getting shelled for eight runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 14-0 loss at Tampa Bay on July 29. He tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago and got nine strikeouts while issuing one walk in a 90-pitch outing.

Cole allowed just four baserunners and won his sixth straight start against the Angels. He recorded six of his first seven outs via strikeout and then was aided by a running catch from center fielder Jonathan Davis, who tracked down a fly ball by rookie Jo Adell to end the fifth.

Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Jose Suarez (5-6) for the Yankees, who mustered little offensively. They could not score in the sixth when they loaded the bases on three straight walks or when they had two on in the eighth with nobody out.

Justin Upton homered three batters in off Cole as the Angels began a four-city, 10-game road trip by losing for the seventh time in 10 games.

Suarez allowed two runs on four hits in five-plus innings. He struck out six and walked three in his second appearance against the Yankees this season.

The contest was a makeup of a July 1 rainout, the day after Jared Walsh hit a grand slam off Aroldis Chapman to spark the Angels' seven-run ninth in an 11-8 win.

Upton homered into the left field seats to give the Angels a 1-0 lead and Gallo lined a 3-1 fastball into the second deck in right field for his fourth homer as a Yankee.

Cole exited after a fielding error by third baseman Rougned Odor and four relievers followed.

Zack Britton got the final out of the sixth, Albert Abreu pitched 1 2/3 innings and Joely Rodriguez fanned Shohei Ohtani to end the eighth.

Chad Green allowed a two-out single to Walsh in the ninth but struck out Phil Gosselin and notched his fourth save.

--Field Level Media