Even a near-vintage performance from Gerrit Cole in his return wasn’t enough to prevent the Yankees from losing their third straight and falling a season-high 5 ½ games back of the Rays.

The Yankees wasted six scoreless innings from their ace in his first outing after recovering from March 2025 Tommy John surgery in a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay in The Bronx.

The culprits on Friday were another unproductive night from the lineup and a shaky performance out of the bullpen against a Rays team that has the best record in the majors, has won five straight overall, as well as all four meetings against the Yankees this season.

The loss didn’t overshadow what Cole did.

“It was a long road and yet, at some point tonight, it was almost like I never left,’’ Cole said of his return. “It was a special night. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close it off.”

The Yankees had 11 hits against the Rays, but were just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position after they looked dead at the plate in their two previous losses at the Stadium to Toronto.

“I was encouraged,” Aaron Boone said of the approach. “We just couldn’t break through.”

Cole was removed after just 72 pitches, replaced by Brent Headrick.

A Houdini act by Fernando Cruz kept the Rays from scoring in the inning and protected the Yankees’ one-run lead provided by Austin Wells’ fifth-inning solo homer.

Austin Wells can’t tag Carson Williams in time during the Yankees’ May 22 loss to the Rays. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

But Tim Hill fell apart an inning later, as the lefty allowed four runs — three earned — without retiring a batter in the eighth.

The Rays’ rally started with José Caballero, in his first game back from the IL, making an error by booting Chandler Simpson’s grounder to shortstop to lead off the inning.

Junior Caminero followed with a base hit up the middle to give the Rays runners on the corners with no one out.

Hill then gave up a double to Jonathan Aranda to tie the game and after an intentional walk to Yandy Diaz loaded the bases, Richie Palacios hit a chopper that Hill deflected past Caballero.

Gerrit Cole throws a pitch during the Yankees’ May 22 loss to the Rays. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

The play scored two runs to put the Rays ahead and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Vilade off Camilo Doval made it 4-1.

The Yankees squandered chances started early, as they stranded two runners in the first and squandered a leadoff single by Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the second.

Trent Grisham, who had three hits, led off the third with his second double of the game, but was thrown out trying to score on a Ben Rice single to right.

Wells, in a 3-for-38 slump, took Fordham’s own Nick Martinez deep to right-center to lead off the bottom of the fifth. It was the only run allowed by the right-hander, whose ERA remained 1.51.

Jonathan Aranda celebrates during the Rays’ May 22 win over the Yankees. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

They got a run back in the bottom of the eighth.

Bellinger doubled with one out and Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove him in with a triple to right-center to make it 4-2.

Caballero grounded out to strand Chisholm.

Wells walked with one out in the ninth and moved to second on a Trent Grisham groundout.

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Aaron Judge ripped a fly ball to left center, where Cedric Mullins caught up to it on the warning track to end it.

“It kind of hasn’t bounced our way against them,’’ Boone said of the Rays. “But we’ve got to find a way to beat that club.”

More performances like Friday’s from Cole will help.

He looked every bit as good as the Yankees remembered and allowed two hits and three walks.

The right-hander, who was initially expected to make one more minor league rehab start before his return to the Yankees rotation, was certainly major-league ready.

After allowing a leadoff walk in the second, Cole retired the next 10 batters he faced before Cedric Mullins’ one-out single in the fifth.

“It was almost like a second debut,’’ Cole said. “It was nice to get back in the fire.”