Saturday was the second straight clunker for Gerrit Cole.

After allowing four homers in the loss against the Padres in San Diego a week ago, the Yankees right-hander came into Yankee Stadium looking to clinch the Subway Series with a win over the Mets. However, the Mets took Cole deep three times en route to a 12-2 victory.

While Cole bounced back from the early homers against the Padres -- going seven innings and allowing four runs -- the same wasn't true against the Mets. The Amazin's pushed across five runs and banged nine hits off of Cole -- both tying season highs -- as he was chased after just 4.1 innings.

After the game, Cole was asked what he believes the reason for the uptick in homers is and the former Cy Young winner was straightforward with his observation.

"The hitters are seeing the ball well and being able to deliver good strikes to it, regardless of the pitch type or the location," he said after the loss.

When asked if it's something Cole can change on his end, the 36-year-old wasn't sure, but offered that it's something he needs to figure out.

"I think it’s something we gotta figure out for sure. It’s one of those times in the season where you have to start making adjustments," Cole explained. "Sometimes adjustments are hard. But that’s the demand of the game. Have to find a way to get through it and move forward."

"Stuff looked ok but not getting it to places he needed to get to and they made him pay for it today," manager Aaron Boone said of Cole's start. "They didn’t miss. That was a little bit of it too. They were fouling pitches off and getting to balls and there wasn’t much swing-and-miss because he wasn’t getting it to spots."

The Yankees skipper said that despite the last two starts, Cole is having a great year and that the Mets were a hot team that hit him around.

Boone is right. Cole returned from Tommy John surgery in late May, and despite the physical progression needed, the right-hander was dealing before San Diego. He made five August starts where he allowed a combined eight earned runs over 30.2 innings (2.35 ERA) and allowed three runs in 5.1 innings against the Angels on Sept. 1 before the Padres and Mets got to him.

However, there are some underlying concerns. Cole's swing-and-misses are down, which he acknowledged is "something we need to tackle," and the looming reality that, physically, he's still trying to bounce back from major surgery. Boone says Cole's arm isn't getting tired, and Cole said he's pleased with how he feels physically, considering he's coming off of Tommy John.

But Cole couldn't rule out whether this is just part of the progression from his surgery.

"Hard to pin it on one thing," Cole said. "Again, at a certain point, starting pitchers throughout the year have to make adjustments. Hitters are good, offenses are good. High-stakes games with good offenses- sometimes they teach you lessons like today."

Despite the results, Cole isn't concerned. He says he's healthy and his experience should benefit him in figuring out what adjustments need to be made to be more effective.

"It’s not easy. It’s a tough game," Cole said. "Have to make hard adjustments; that’s why it’s the big leagues."

Cole added, "Hitters are really good. There’s credit to be dished out, but at the same time we expect better. That’s what we’ll be chasing."

And Boone has those same expectations.

"I expect him to be right next time."

The Yankees hope Cole is right as they head to the final two weeks of the regular season. After the loss, the Rays hold a 3.5-game lead in the AL East with a massive four-game series between the Yankees and Tampa Bay coming up.

Even if the Yankees don't catch Tampa for the AL East crown, they'll need Cole to make a deep playoff run this October.

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