Gerrit Cole and Juan Soto lead the Yankees past the Athletics 4-2 in 10 innings

OAKLAND, Calif. — Gerrit Cole tuned up for the postseason by holding the Athletics to one run in nine innings and Juan Soto came off the bench to hit an RBI double in the 10th, giving the New York Yankees a 4-2 win on Friday night in the opener of the final scheduled homestand ever in Oakland.

Cole (7-5) was sharp after getting hit had last Saturday in a loss to Boston, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out seven and needed just 99 pitches to get past the sixth inning for the first time since shutting out Toronto in his final start of 2023.

Cole got the win thanks in part to a rare pinch-hit appearance from Soto, who was scratched from the starting lineup with a sore left leg after sliding into a wall in Seattle on Thursday.

After a passed ball by Shea Langeliers allowed the go-ahead run to score in the 10th, Soto delivered his big hit off T.J. McFarland (2-4) for a 3-1 lead. Soto is 2 for 10 with four RBIs in 13 career pinch-hit appearances.

It was a disappointing start to the final stretch of games in Oakland. The A's have five home games remaining this season before they leave town. They are set to play at least the next three seasons in Sacramento and intend a 2028 move to Las Vegas, where they are trying to build a new stadium.

Attendance for the opener of the series was 23,426, pushing the A's season average over the 10,000 mark for the first time since opening night.

Both starters faced the minimum batters through 3 1/2 innings with Cole retiring his first nine batters and and Oakland turning double plays after both early hits allowed by J.T. Ginn.

The teams then traded runs with the A's taking the lead on Langeliers' RBI single in the fourth and Volpe tying it with his run-scoring single in the fifth.

Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling (back) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, face hitters on Tuesday and could pitch in the final weekend of the season in Seattle if all goes well."

The Kansas City Royals' late-season losing streak stretched to five on Friday night with a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, who got three hits from Heliot Ramos.