NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole couldn't have expected the New York Yankees to take the ball away from him just one batter into his first home start in the Bronx.

But the team's new $324 million ace learned the hard way about one of baseball's new coronavirus safety protocols Tuesday night during an intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium.

Cole allowed a home run to the second hitter he faced, Miguel Andújar, one pitch after being forced to give up the ball he used to strike out leadoff man Mike Tauchman.

"I liked that ball," Cole grumbled on the mound.

Among the safety steps instituted by Major League...