LOS ANGELES — As Giancarlo Stanton and Nestor Cortes exited the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium through a side door on Friday night, the slugger gave the pitcher a soft pat on the back.
Hours earlier, Stanton, a Los Angeles native and childhood Dodgers fan, had given the Yankees a 2-1 lead in Game 1 of the World Series when he drilled a two-run homer deep to left. Cortes, however, surrendered the biggest blast of the night: a 10th-inning, walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman.
“He’s still gonna help us win it when he has an opportunity,” Stanton said of Cortes after the Yankees’ 6-3 loss. “So it’s not the end of him. Wasn’t a terrible pitch. Just a great player.”
While Stanton had no issue with the offering, Cortes said he wanted the pitch, an inside fastball, 2-to-3 inches higher. He simply didn’t locate in his first outing since Sept. 18.
“It’s a tough one. The boys battled all night. Just tough to give it up right there,” said Cortes, who answered questions for over 12 minutes after the game. “Just tried to seal the deal for them, and I couldn’t.”
IT'S GONE
IT'S GONE
IT'S GONE
IT'S GONE
FREDDIE FREEMAN #WALKOFF GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/LlVU1ZGyGx— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Cortes had not pitched in the postseason prior to Friday, as he went on the injured list with a left elbow flexor strain on Sept. 25. After missing the first two rounds of the playoffs and expediting his throwing program, Cortes was added to the Yankees’ World Series roster on Friday afternoon.
Aaron Boone then asked the lefty — typically a starter — to record the biggest outs of the Fall Classic opener. Tim Hill, another southpaw, was also warming with Shohei Ohtani and Freeman, both left-handed swingers, waiting to strike with runners on first and second, one out and the Yankees up, 3-2.
“Just liked the matchup,” Boone said when reminded it’s been a while since Cortes has pitched in a real game. “The reality is he’s been throwing the ball really well the last few weeks as he’s gotten ready for this. 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 behind him is a tough matchup there. So I felt convicted with Nestor in that spot.”
While Boone was criticized for his choice, Hill, a groundball specialist with a 1.59 ERA this postseason, added that he expected to enter in a different situation. He said he couldn’t elaborate, though.
“That’s between me and the Yankees,” Hill said. “Sorry.”
Boone’s decision to go with Cortes got off to a good start, as the formidable Ohtani flew out on a play that saw Alex Verdugo flip into the stands down the left field line. With two outs recorded, the Yankees then intentionally walked Mookie Betts in hopes of exploiting a left-on-left matchup with Freeman.
It didn’t work out.
“It just sucks I couldn’t come through for the guys,” Cortes said. “I know everybody’s focused on Ohtani, Ohtani, Ohtani, and then we get him out, but Freeman is also a really good hitter. I just couldn’t get the job done today.”
As Freeman pulled Cortes deep to right and held his bat above his head in celebration, the pitcher said that he felt a range of emotions walking off the field.
Anger over his lack of execution quickly emerged, but self-pity did not.
“Walking in here, I didn’t feel sorry for myself at all,” Cortes said. “I felt more like I let my team down.”
As Cortes took responsibility for his disastrous World Series debut, his peers offered support on and off camera.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in Nestor,” said Aaron Judge, who went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts in his first World Series game. “He’s come up big for us throughout the year.”
“He’s a big-time pitcher for us,” Verdugo added. “Freddie got him. He made a good swing. He’s a great hitter, great player, and sometimes you gotta tip your cap.
“I got my money on Nestor every time.”
Cortes, meanwhile, sounded eager for his next chance after throwing just two pitches on Friday.
It’s too soon to know if the Yankees will use the hurler on back-to-back days after his injury, but there will likely be other moments where the game is on the line and Ohtani and Freeman are due up.
With that in mind, don’t be surprised if Cortes gets a shot at redemption.
“I’m excited to get back out there,” he said. “I knew this runway was for me, and I didn’t get it done tonight. But I know there’s more opportunities for me to come.”
