Yankees Fall 12-2 to Resurgent Mets as Gerrit Cole Stumbles in Bronx
On September 12, 2026, the New York Yankees suffered a 12-2 defeat against the crosstown rival New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. Francisco Lindor launched a leadoff home run and added a grand slam, while rookie left-hander Zac Thornton stymied the Yankees’ lineup, delaying New York’s postseason clinching scenario.
The Long-Ball Barrage That Rocked Yankee Stadium
The New York Post reported that the Yankees’ march to the playoffs hit a massive roadblock when the surging Mets battered ace Gerrit Cole for five runs and nine hits over just 4 1/3 innings. According to the Associated Press via CBS Sports, the Mets slugged a season-high six home runs, marking the most long balls the Yankees have surrendered in a single game all year.
Lindor ignited the onslaught on the fifth anniversary of his famous three-homer game against the Yankees at Citi Field, lining Cole’s 1-1 changeup into the right-field seats. Luis Torrens added a two-run shot in the second, and rookie Carson Benge tagged Cole for his 17th homer of the season in the third. When Benge singled in the fifth to score Juan Soto, the Yankee Stadium crowd let out a chorus of boos as manager Aaron Boone pulled his veteran ace.
“Hitters and offenses are good,’’ Cole remarked after the game, as detailed by the New York Post. “High-stakes games against good offenses, sometimes they teach you lessons — like today.” Boone echoed those sentiments to the press, noting, “He got roughed up. That’s a hot team in here, swinging the bat well and they hit him around a little bit.”
Zac Thornton and the Mets’ Deadline Rebound
While the Mets’ rotation leaned on rookie brilliance, left-hander Zac Thornton delivered an exceptional performance in his Subway Series debut. As documented by CBS Sports, Thornton allowed just two runs and five hits across seven stellar innings, diffusing a dangerous Yankees lineup bolstered by the return of Aaron Judge.
Since selling off pieces at the August 3 trade deadline, the Mets have compiled a blistering 22-13 record, winning 22 of their last 35 games. Lindor acknowledged the team’s frustrating trajectory during his postgame availability with the New York Post: “It’s been an uphill fight all year. It sucks we haven’t played much together. This is what we should have been doing since the beginning. We’ll try to make the most of it.”
| Team | Runs | Hits | Errors | Home Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | 12 | 13 | 0 | 6 |
| New York Yankees | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Playoff Implications and What Lies Ahead
Despite the blowout loss, the Yankees (85-63) remain firmly positioned for a postseason berth, sitting comfortably within the American League picture despite dropping eight of their last 25 contests. However, Cole’s recent struggles—featuring an 0-3 record and a 10.92 ERA with 10 home runs allowed over his last three Subway Series starts—present a tangible front-office concern regarding his mechanics heading into October.
The Yankees missed an opportunity to immediately clinch their third consecutive postseason appearance and keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East race. They will look to rebound in the series finale, where RHP Cam Schlittler (13-6, 2.01 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against Mets RHP Christian Scott (4-4, 3.81 ERA) at Yankee Stadium, according to game data provided by CBS Sports.
