Cole throws 6 scoreless innings in return, Rays rally past Yankees 4-2 for 16th win in 19 games

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched six scoreless innings in his return from elbow ligament replacement surgery but shortstop José Caballero's error led to a four-run eighth inning that boosted the Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees 4-2 on Friday night for their 16th win in 19 games.

Austin Wells homered for the first time since April 28, a fifth-inning drive off Nick Martinez, before Tampa Bay rallied to deal the Yankees their third straight loss and 10th in 14 games. The Rays, a big league-best 34-15, are 4-0 against the Yankees and opened a 5 1/2-game AL East lead over New York

Yankees star Aaron Judge went 0 for 4 with a game-ending flyout to the center-field warning track with a man on and is in 1-for-24 slide that dropped his average to .245. Judge has gone a career-high 11 games without any RBIs.

A 35-year-old right-hander who had surgery in March 2025, Cole allowed two hits and three walks while striking out two. The six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award averaged 96.1 mph with his four-seam fastball.

Caballero, back at shortstop after missing 10 days with a broken finger, allowed Chandler Simpson's one-hopper to bounce off his glove leading of the eighth.

Junior Caminero singled off Tim Hill (0-2), Jonathan Aranda followed with an RBI double and Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked. Richie Palacios hit a comebacker that could have been a 1-2-3 double play but the ball bounced off the glove of a leaping Hill, over Caballero and into center for a two-run single. Ryan Vilade added a sacrifice fly.

Ian Seymour (3-0) allowed Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s RBI triple in the eighth and Bryan Baker got three outs for his 14th save in 17 chances.

Tampa Bay’s Jonny DeLuca hurt his right hamstring while running to first on a seventh-inning single, then left after having trouble going from first to third on Cedric Mullins’ double. Rays manager Kevin Cash said DeLuca likely will be put on the injured list — the outfielder didn't play for the Rays after Aug. 6 last year because of left hamstring injury.

Trent Grisham, who missed Thursday's game because of a sore knee, had three hits for the Yankees.

Yankees RHP Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.58) and Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (4-1, 3.19) were scheduled to start Saturday.

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Shirtless fans of the New York Yankees react during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda, right, reacts after hitting an RBI double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, right, hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda, right, hits an RBI double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, May 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Joking with his wife before the biggest single-day race in cycling, Brandon McNulty said it would take a miracle to become world champion.

Well, “I guess, today, miracles happen,” McNulty said after becoming the first American to win the men’s road race at the world champonships since Lance Armstrong did it in 1993.

On Monday, McNulty — known mainly as a support rider to cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar on his trade team, UAE Team Emirates — was still marveling about how he pulled off a solo breakaway with 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) to go in Sunday’s grueling race in Montreal — which lasted more than six hours.

McNulty crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of Australia’s Michael Matthews, with the Netherlands’ Mathieu van der Poel in third.

“I’m not sure yesterday will ever sink in and I’m still at a loss for words,” McNulty said in an Instagram post.

“Thank you to these seven guys who showed up yesterday with 100% belief that we could win this bike race with one of us,” he added, in appreciation of his American teammates. “I know none of us will ever forget this day.”

The only other American men to claim the title were Greg LeMond in 1983 and 1989 and Armstrong in 1993.

Armstrong retains his 1993 title despite being stripped of his seven Tour de France victories because he won it before the period in which he was found guilty of doping.

“Hands down the most exciting race of the year and a deserved winner,” Armstrong wrote on X. “A thing of beauty.”

The 28-year-old McNulty, who is from Phoenix, Arizona, won the junior time trial at worlds 10 years ago and has claimed stage wins at both the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta.

Still, he wasn’t considered a favorite to take the rainbow jersey.

But with two-time defending champion Pogacar out injured, the other contenders struggled with tactics and McNulty used his time trialing expertise to hold off the chasers.

“The King of Montreal,” Pogacar said on Instagram, also referring to a race in Montreal last year where McNulty and Pogacar finished 1-2. “Proud of you.”

Two other Americans finished in the top 10 on Sunday: former junior world champion Quinn Simmons in fourth and Matteo Jorgenson in eighth.

The title comes after McNulty was the subject of a road rage incident before a time trial at this year's Tour de France.

McNulty was confronted by an angry motorist who overtook him on his way to the start of the 16th stage. Mauro Gianetti, the chief executive of the UAE team, said the driver of the car was furious and that he stopped his vehicle after overtaking McNulty, who then collided with the vehicle.

Two days later, McNulty abandoned the Tour.

AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin contributed.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Brandon McNulty, of the United States, centre, Michael Matthews, of Australia, right, and Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, pose for a selfie following the men's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in Montreal on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brandon McNulty, of the United States, second right, races in the peloton during the men's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in Montreal, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brandon McNulty, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in Montreal on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brandon McNulty, of the United States, celebrates winning the men's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in Montreal, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Brandon McNulty, of the United States, is hugged by his wife Summer after winning the men's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in Montreal on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)