Michael Kay, YES hosts reject Aaron Boone’s Nestor Cortes decision

Aaron Boone screwed up.

That was Michael Kay and his YES Network colleagues’ take on Boone’s questionable decision to sub in Nestor Cortes in the bottom of the 10th inning, which led to the Yankees’ 6-3, 10-inning loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 Series in Los Angeles.

With runners on first and second and one out, Boone decided to cut right guard Jake Cousins ​​and go with Nestor Cortes, who hadn’t played in a game since September 18, against Shohei Ohtani.

Cortes got Ohtani to fly out to left field thanks to an incredible catch by Alex Verdugo, who fell out of play in left field but held on to the ball, similar to Derek Jeter’s famous running catch in the stands against the Red Sox in 2004.

Boone then intentionally walked Mookie Betts to load the bases so Cortes could face lefty batter Freddie Freeman.

Sitting on a first-pitch fastball, Freeman made Cortes and the Yankees pay by hitting the game-winning grand slam.

After the brutal loss, Michael Kay criticized Boone’s decision, saying he should have chosen left-hander Tim Hill, who was warming up in the bullpen at the same time as Cortes.

Ohtani began his attack with just 2:12 left against Cortes, but Kay still didn’t believe the decision.

“I don’t care what the numbers say about Nestor Cortes (against Ohtani),” Kay said. “He hadn’t pitched since September 18th. These numbers against Ohtani came every five days (with Cortes as the starter).

“Tim Hill was a star for the Yankees,” Kay added. “This is the guy you’re bringing with you. I’m not interested in sim games. I don’t care what he looked like in the bullpen. That didn’t seem like the right move.”

Jack Curry then brought up the fact that Freeman told Fox’s Ken Rosenthal after the fact that he was hunting for a first-pitch fastball, and that’s what Cortes gave him when he tried to come out on top to have.

Kay and Curry also said Boone’s decision to pull a dominant Gerrit Cole after just 88 pitches was the wrong move because it pushed everyone in the bullpen to get in early.

In the end, it hurt the Yankees.

Kay said the Yankees missed a big chance to capitalize on a strong start from their ace, who was retired after giving up a single to the first batter in the seventh inning despite allowing just one run.

Follow the Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:

“When you get off to a start like Gerrit Cole, you have to win the game,” Kay said, referring to the Bombers’ ace. “That’s the reason he’s on the team. Major League Baseball teams don’t have Gerrit Coles, all of them don’t, some do. The Yankees had a really strong inning, well rested and pitched (six). You probably should have played longer, then you lose the game. “It burns.”

Regarding the ill-fated Cortes decision, Curry said it was not a second guess, but rather a “first guess” from him and his Yankees broadcast colleagues who made the decision as soon as it was made. questioned.

John Flaherty said this was a “brutal” loss for the Yankees because both teams used their bullpens so aggressively.

“Whoever lost this game will feel it tomorrow night,” Flaherty said. “Unfortunately for the Yankees, they will be.”