CHICAGO For Gerrit Coles 34th birthday, the Yankees gave their ace the equivalent of coal. They hurt him defensively, leading to a pair of unearned runs against him, and did not provide much with their bats. That combination was enough to cost the Yankees a chance at a sweep as they fell to the Cubs, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Cole was strong acro s six innings of work, allowing just three hits and one walk and striking out seven while dueling with his best friend Jameson Taillon. Cole retired the final 12 batters he faced and 15 of 16 after the first inning, but it was that opening frame prolonged by a fielding error by Gleyber Torres that came back to haunt the Yankees (82-61) as they mi sed an opportunity to extend their lead beyond a half-game over the Orioles atop the AL East. Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Cubs on Sept. 8, 2024. AP Gerrit was excellent, manager Aaron Boone said. Anytime he goes out there like that, an opportunity to sweep a good club thats playing well [and you dont do it], it sucks. But we gotta get home and start a big homestand. The Yankees will host the Royals a potential playoff foe for three games starting Monday before playing four more against the Red Sox whose postseason hopes are on life support through the weekend. Taillon, who threw eight shutout innings against the Yankees last July, stifled his former teammates again on Sunday, to sing six innings of one-run ball. The Yankees went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base while Ian Happ robbed them of at least two hits with a pair of terrific plays in left field. Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Wrigley Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con That only stung more because of Torres error that led to the only two runs the Cubs (73-70) scored all weekend. Cole had two outs and a man on first base in the bottom of the first inning when Cody Bellinger hit a sharp ground ball to second base. Torres tried to play it on the backhand but booted it for his 17th error of the season, allowing both runners to advance. Explore More I think he didnt make a quick enough decision to break in where you get that short hop and it just kind of ate him up Daz Cameron Jersey a little bit, Boone said. Unfortunate. Ex-Yankee Mike Tauchman then put together a tough at-bat against Cole, walking on the 10th pitch he saw after fouling off four pitches and taking two close balls near the zone to load the bases. Cole was upset with home plate umpire Brian Walsh about a few pitches in the moment but later said he may have been wrong. Isaac Paredes came up next and blooped a single into left-center field to put the Cubs up 2-0. Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 08, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Yankees 2-1. Getty Images That [inning] kind of stunk, Cole said. I had a couple opportunities to pick us up and get us out but I just didnt make enough good pitches. Besides leading to the two runs, Torres error forced Cole to throw 17 extra pitches in the inning, which helped end his day after six. I think I had a chance to make that play and unfortunately I mi sed, Torres said. The Yankees put runners on the corners with one out in the second inning, but came away with only one run on a sacrifice fly from Anthony Volpe. Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres commits an error during the first inning after Sept. 8, 2024. Getty Images Happ made a strong diving catch on Volpes sinking liner to help limit the damage in the frame and later added a running catch into the ivy on a deep fly ball from Austin Wells in the eighth inning. If he doesnt make that play on Volpe there, maybe its a different inning, different scenario, Boone said. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! While the Yankees wasted it, the most important development on Sunday was Cole continuing to look like himself of late after a delayed start to the season. He now owns a 1.58 ERA over his last seven starts, with his fastball looking especially sharp as he heads down the stretch. The command with it is really good and the effort level with which I have to throw it is nice, Cole said. It was a fun matchup [against Taillon]. He pitched really well. I just didnt make enough good pitches to hold the [scorele s tie]. Matt Bowman Jersey