LOS ANGELES — It almost worked. New York Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes, who hadn’t pitched in 37 days due to injury, entered the game and got Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to fly out with just one pitch.
But on the next pitch Cortes threw, he missed his location and Freddie Freeman clobbered a walk-off grand slam, handing the Yankees a devastating 6-3 loss in 10 innings in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
Why did manager Aaron Boone use Cortes? Why not fellow lefty Tim Hill, who was warming up at the same time?
“Just liked the matchup,” Boone said.
Aaron Boone discusses Game 1 against the Dodgers with @M_Marakovits and the rest of the media. pic.twitter.com/VVYXDOaZzg
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 26, 2024
Cortes hadn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 18 after straining a flexor tendon in his left elbow, though he had been working out and told the Yankees he was ready. He spent 2024 as a starting pitcher, going 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 31 games. He made just one relief appearance this season, and had been a full-time starter since 2021. But he wasn’t new to the bullpen. Cortes had 49 big-league relief appearances entering Friday.
There were at least two major factors in Boone’s decision — Cortes’ track record vs. Ohtani and the number of outs.
The Yankees brought in Cortes to face Ohtani after righty Jake Cousins — with one out and protecting a one-run lead — gave up a walk to Gavin Lux and then a single up the middle by NLCS MVP Tommy Edman past diving second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera.
At the time, Cortes and reliever Tim Hill, also a lefty, were simultaneously throwing in the bullpen. Hill had given up just one earned run in seven appearances in the playoffs so far. Cortes had been activated in the playoffs for the first time Friday morning.
But going into Friday, Ohtani was just 2-for-12 (.167) with a strikeout in his career against Cortes. Against Hill, Ohtani was 1-for-4 (.250) with a strikeout and a walk.
“The reality is he’s been throwing the ball really well the last few weeks as he’s gotten ready for this,” Boone said, referring to Cortes. “… I don’t know if you ever love a matchup against Ohtani. But I felt like Nestor could give us a shot at it.”
Cortes prevailed against Ohtani. He threw a 92-mph fastball up and in the strike zone that Ohtani hit high in the air and foul to the left side. Alex Verdugo raced over and made a spectacular catch, crossing into foul territory and then tumbling over a wall.
WOW!!!
ALEX VERDUGO MAKES THE CATCH AND FLIPS OVER THE WALL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RD0gfw9jzf
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Then Boone signaled to the umpires to issue an intentional walk to Betts, loading the bases for Freeman, who obliterated another 92-mph fastball — this one down and in — all the way to the right-field seats. Cortes said he threw the pitch about “two or three inches” too low. Going into the night, Freeman had a only double in three career at-bats vs. Cortes.
“I got Ohtani out on a fastball up that I commanded real well and I tried to do the same to Freeman and couldn’t sit him down,” Cortes said.
Boone added that he might have used Hill if there were two outs. After the Yankees signed Hill on June 20, he had the second-highest ground ball rate in the majors at 69.9 percent. But Ohtani is among the fastest players in the majors. Getting Ohtani to ground into a double play may have been difficult.
“I knew with one out there, it would be tough to double up Shohei if Tim Hill gets him on the ground and then Mookie (Betts) behind him is a tough matchup there,” Boone said. “So felt convicted with Nestor in that spot.”
Initially, Hill, still in his full uniform at his locker, didn’t want to discuss the decision.
“Why don’t you ask Boonie? I just pitch, bro,” he said.
But about a half-hour later, Hill, in street clothes, calmly explained that Cortes “had one situation and I had the other. So, he got it. Know what I mean? I’m sorry, but that’s all I got.”
Cortes said that he had been ready to pitch since approximately the fourth inning. On Tuesday, following a workout at Yankee Stadium, he spoke about how he figured he would be expected to face Ohtani.
“I’m going to have to bring out the kitchen sink on him,” Cortes said at the time. “And not only him, but all the other lefties they have in that lineup. I think they’re a well-stacked lineup.”
When Cortes went on the IL, it seemed unlikely that the 29-year-old would pitch again this season. Cortes was shut down for 10 days. But when he began playing catch, he felt good enough to test the elbow and build up his arm strength. He threw bullpen sessions and rounds of live batting practice. The Yankees even considered activating him during the American League Championship Series after reliever Ian Hamilton strained his calf, but decided against it.
On Friday, Boone decided to use Cortes in the most crucial situation of the Yankees’ season so far. It almost worked. Cortes beat Ohtani, but not Freeman.
(Top photo of Aaron Boone making the pitching change in the tenth inning: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images )
