Marcus Semien grounded out to first base with two outs in the ninth inning on September 2, 2024, as the New York Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers 8-4 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The victory came as Gerrit Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, exited the game in the seventh inning with a cramp in his right calf.
Giancarlo Stanton had reached 25 home runs for the 10th time in his career with a solo shot to center field in the eighth, extending the Yankees’ lead. Prior to his injury, Cole (6-3) struck out nine batters over six innings. He experienced discomfort before his final warmup pitch, lifting his right leg and attempting a stretch before signaling to the Yankees bench. Manager Aaron Boone and the team’s medical staff subsequently visited the mound.
The Yankees offense was bolstered by a two-run double from Gleyber Torres in the third inning, giving New York a lead they would not relinquish. Anthony Rizzo added a two-run double in a five-run sixth inning, following an Aaron Judge double that drove in his MLB-best 124th run of the season. Torres also made a crucial defensive play in the ninth, diving to his right to stop a ground ball by Semien and completing the throw to first for the final out.
The Rangers had previously defeated the Yankees 7-4 on September 3, 2024, also at Globe Life Field. The Yankees (80-58) remained a half-game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East standings at the time of the September 2nd victory, having lost four of their previous five games. Cole’s injury is particularly concerning given his history; he began the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list due to nerve irritation and edema in his throwing elbow, delaying his season debut until June 19.
Juan Soto contributed a single for the Yankees in the sixth inning. The Yankees are scheduled to continue their series against the Houston Astros on September 2, 2025.
