When the Yankees acquired Cone, they were on a six-game winning streak, though still trailing the Boston Red Sox for the division lead. Cone instantly became the team's ace and would post a 9-2 record as the Yankees won the wild card in the first season of the new three division, wild card format. In his third post-season, Cone won the first game of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, and left game five with the score tied at four. The Mariners won the game in extra innings to eliminate the Yankees from the playoffs.