"We were going to be pretty strict to 90 today" - Aaron Boone explains taking Gerrit Cole off early despite Yankees ace's dominant 10 strikeouts show

Aaron Boone defended the decision to take Gerrit Cole off the mound before the end of the sixth inning on Saturday night. The New York Yankees ace produced a stellar display against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night, enjoying arguably his best outing this season.

Boone explained that Cole had a strict pitch-count limit before the start of the game due to his injury troubles this season; therefore, he had to take him out when he reached that mark.

Gerrit Cole missed the opening two and a half months of the season and has struggled for consistency since his return. Despite allowing six hits and two walks, Cole had racked up 10 strikeouts and allowed only one run through 5.1 innings when he came out of the game after 90 pitches.

However, the Yankees bullpen allowed five runs to the Rangers in the sixth inning, as they ended up losing 9-4 at home. In the post-match press conference, Aaron Boone justified the reasons why he chose to take Gerrit Cole out of the game before he could complete the sixth inning.

"We just wanted one more batter. We were going to be pretty strict at 90 [pitches] today. With what he has been through, it is just encouraging to see him go out and throw the ball the way he did today again," Boone said.

"He has to just go on and get through this [period]. Just making sure that we are in a good spot with him. Obviously, I thought he threw the ball outstandingly again. So, I feel like we are building some steam here going forward," he added.

Thus far, Gerrit Cole has been limited to 90 or fewer pitches in half of the 10 starts that he has made since coming out of the IL in mid-June. However, this was the fewest Cole has thrown in the five appearances since July 6.

We win as a team, we lose as a team: Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole notched 10 strikeouts in just over five innings on Saturday (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Gerrit Cole did not voice any discontent over his dismissal from the mound on Saturday, although he said he was not facing any physical issues at the time. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner also gave his support to relief pitcher Luke Weaver, who picked up the loss, after a forgettable game.

Weaver has been the best reliever of the Yankees bullpen this season. He entered the field to replace Cole, with 2.81 ERA from 64.0 innings and an outstanding 0.875 WHIP when entering the field to replace Cole in the sixth inning. However, the 30-year-old managed to get just one out as he gave up five earned runs on four hits and a walk against the six batters that he faced on the night.

"Luke [Weaver] has been so good for us this year. I mean, elite. We all have our off days, but he is always prepared and always ready to go. So, in that situation, you trust the bulk performance and you trust Luke. He is a big part of the team, and he has helped us out a lot," Gerrit Cole said.

"Normally, he comes in and locks down. He just didn't have a great day today. That's unfortunate. But we win as a team and we lose as a team," Cole added.

The Yankees had earned an 8-0 victory in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday before the Rangers won the second one 9-4. The two teams will play the decisive rubber of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon.