Gerrit Cole sets new Yankees record in Opening Day victory over Giants

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Gerrit Cole came out firing on Opening Day for the New York Yankees and set a new franchise record in the process.

Cole's tone-setting 11 strikeouts is now the Opening Day record for most strikeouts by a Yankees starter as he aided in the team's 5-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon in the Bronx.

It was an inauspicious start for Cole after walking the Giants' leadoff hitter, LaMonte Wade Jr., on four straight fastballs outside the strike zone.

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Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

But once he found that first strike against Michael Conforto in the next at-bat, Cole was basically locked in.

Cole's first seven outs of the ballgame were all strikeouts as the Giants couldn't catch up to his fastball, of which he used a bunch in his outing. 

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Cole would throw 95 pitches, 56 of them for a strike, while giving up two walks and three hits over six innings of work for his first win of the season.

This was a much better Opening Day outing for Cole compared to last season against the Boston Red Sox, against whom he allowed four runs in the first inning. The offense picked him up in that one, though, as Josh Donaldson would end up walking it off.

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30,