Gerrit Cole throws 6 scoreless innings for the Yankees in a 3-2 win over the White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched six shutout innings of four-hit ball and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Tuesday night for their fifth victory in six games.

Anthony Volpe hit an RBI double in the second and scored on Max Schuemann's two-run double as the Yankees (61-46) moved within 1 1/2 games of AL East-leading Tampa Bay. Jasson Domínguez had two hits and reached base three times.

Chase Meidroth hit a two-run homer off New York closer David Bednar with two outs in the ninth. Bednar then struck out ex-Yankee Everson Pereira for his 22nd save.

The White Sox have lost four of five, including two consecutive games to New York. Chicago's lead over second-place Cleveland in the tight AL Central slipped to 1 1/2 games.

Cole (4-5) was dominant in his 12th start since coming back May 22 from Tommy John surgery. The six-time All-Star right-hander struck out seven and walked two.

The White Sox threatened Cole only in the fourth, when Munetaka Murakami doubled and Cole issued two walks to load the bases before Tristan Peters popped out to end the inning.

Anthony Kay (7-5) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out seven.

In the second, Volpe’s run-scoring double went off Peters’ glove as the center fielder jumped high at the wall. Schuemann knocked in two more runs when he bounced a grounder high over third base.

Cole helped himself by making a circus catch on Colson Montgomery’s high popup for the first out of the second inning.

Yankees infielders Amed Rosario and Volpe raced in for the ball. New York catcher Austin Wells came out and bumped into Cole, but the right-hander fully extended his left hand and snared the popup with his glove in front of the mound. Cole stumbled and the ball flipped up in the air, but he caught it with his bare hand.

Murakami has reached base safely in a career-best 14 straight games since he was reinstated from the injured list July 10.

Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.07 ERA) faces White Sox RHP Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49) on Wednesday.

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Chicago White Sox starter Anthony Kay delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters misses a two-run double hit by New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe during the second inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe watches his two-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left Tuesday night’s 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals with right hamstring tightness.

He was replaced in the bottom of the fourth inning by Kazuma Okamoto.

Guerrero, a six-time All-Star, grounded into a double play and reached on an infield single in his two at-bats. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Guerrero felt tightness when he touched first base on his single and turned toward second after an errant throw.

“He was a little sore and he wanted to stay in," Schneider said. “It was my call just to be careful with him and not have anything worse happen. ... He checked out pretty good and we'll see how he is tomorrow. It's a quick turnaround and, again, just trying to be smart with him. I don't want to lose him for an extended period of time.”

Guerrero is hitting .265 with six homers and 44 RBIs this season.

The 27-year-old slugger has played at least 156 games in each of the past five seasons. He has played in 103 of Toronto’s 108 games this year.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks on from the dugout after striking out in his first at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. waits his turn for batting practice before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Nasim Nuñez (26) beats out a throw to Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., center, during the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks on during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) is safe at first base against Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (2) during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)