Even Gerrit Cole knows that Rafael Devers is his father

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hasn’t come across a player quite like Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who has bested him at every turn.

Gerrit Cole has started 14 games this season. He held the opposing team to two runs or fewer in 11 of those, ranking second in MLB. And he did it again on Friday night against the Red Sox despite taking his first loss of the year.

But the conversation after that 3-2 Red Sox win isn’t about the Yankees batters letting Cole down. It’s about Cole’s nemesis getting the last laugh again.

Simply put, Rafael Devers owns Gerrit Cole and everyone, including Cole himself, knows it.

Gerrit Cole wishes he knew why Rafael Devers owns him

“They paid him $300 million dollars for a reason,” Cole said on YES Network after the game. “He’s a good player, man. I haven’t come across any other player quite like him.”

On Friday, Devers doubled off Cole in the fourth inning and went on to score a run. Then in the top of the sixth he sent the first pitch he faced into the stands.

“I haven’t thought very many times it’s a really bad pitch but Raffy seems to let me know otherwise,” Cole said. “Pretty good pitch, well executed, but better swing, so lost.”

That 405-foot home run was the seventh in his career against Cole. Devers hasn’t hit half as many home runs against any other pitcher and Cole hasn’t given up more home runs to any other player.

When asked specifically why Devers seems to have his number, Cole was at a loss.

“I wish I could answer that,” he said.

Of course, no one loves it more than Red Sox fans, including this one who cut together each of Devers home runs against Cole with a creative music choice.

The Red Sox and Yankees will continue their rivalry series on Saturday night with Domingo German on the mound.