Anthony Rizzo 'grateful' as he faces Cubs for first time since joining Yankees

Anthony Rizzo faced the Chicago Cubs on Friday night for the first time since he was a rookie with the San Diego Padres in 2011.

The matchup at Yankee Stadium brought back a flood of memories for Rizzo, who was part of the Cubs’ World Series-winning team in 2016 and was dealt to the Yankees at last season’s trade deadline. He re-signed with them as a free agent.

“I’m grateful,” Rizzo said. “I’m grateful to be able to play in two historic cities, franchises, Wrigley Field all those years and now Yankee Stadium, where the history just speaks for itself.”

The Cubs, who went into the series with a 23-33 record, are in the middle of a teardown that they hope will lead to better days.

n  Hot and Cole

Gerrit Cole allowed three home runs in a span of four pitches by the first three Twins hitters — and five overall in 2 1⁄3 innings in the Yankees’ 10-7 comeback win in Minnesota on Thursday night — but Aaron Boone said he is not concerned.

“He and I talked for a little while [Thursday] night,” Boone said. “Not something I’m overly concerned about. He just didn’t feel great and didn’t execute real well. No reason that won’t change in his next outing, and we fully expect that. I don’t think there’s anything to dive in that much.”  

n  Gallo sits

Joey Gallo, who homered twice Thursday and had eight hits in his last 25 at-bats, was not in the lineup against lefthander Wade Miley. “Somebody’s got to be down and we’ve got a lot of guys that deserve to be in that lineup,” Boone said. “Just got to kind of strategically pick times to have guys down and try and get them in the most favorable matchups. There was absolute temptation [to play Gallo], but felt like this is the way I wanted to go for today.”