BOSTON — The game on Wednesday night saw a weird delivery from Nestor Cortes helping him to strike out Boston’s Rafael Devers. The game ended with the Yankees beating the Red Sox 5-3.
New York pitcher Cortes only gave up one run in five and a half innings. But his funky delivery took a toll on the Red Sox turning the game to New York’s advantage.
On the last pitch of the at-bat, the left-handed pitcher’s delivery was especially strange. Cortes hung and swung his right leg and then released the pitch. It was a weird swinging pitch that Devers had never anticipated. He was waiting for the ball to hit but it got the second out.
“He fouled off a lot of good pitches and I felt like I had to do something different,” said a happy Cortes and added, “As soon as I lifted up my leg, all hell broke loose; it was a well-executed pitch and I was able to get him to swing.”
Even the catcher, Jose Trevino, said that the pitch by Cortes “caught him off guard.”
Cortes said that he was thinking about the weird delivery as he went. He even admitted that he was about to fall while pitching it.
More importantly, Cortes said he feels good after being out of work for a while because of a strained groin. He was taken out of the game after 65 pitches so that he could get ready for the home stretch and the playoffs.
Aroldis Chapman should meet up with the Yankees in Milwaukee and be ready to play in the first game of the series against the Brewers on Friday night. On Tuesday, he pitched in his last rehab game for Double-A Somerset.
The lefty hasn’t played since August 27 because a tattoo on his left leg gave him an infection.
Manager Aaron Boone said that Chapman’s role would depend partly on how was able to pitch after making his return. The pitcher had a very inconsistent season prior to his injury. Though his physical presence will boost the injury-riddled Yankees, the team is cautious in giving him a role.
Now, it depends on whether Chapman can keep using the right mechanics, which has been a problem for him for most of the year.
Right-handed pitcher Scott Effross, who was traded from the Cubs at the trade deadline, is also close to coming back from a right shoulder strain that has kept him out for three weeks. He is set to throw live batting practice in Milwaukee on Friday and may be back soon after that.
Zack Britton played in a rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. He tried to come back just a year after UCL surgery. He threw 11 pitches in an inning with no runs scored.
The left-handed pitcher still needs more work, and the Yankees will have to decide if he has enough time to get back to form before the playoffs.
Anthony Rizzo had another good day on his way back from lower back tightness and headaches caused by an epidural. His first face-to-face with a pitcher may happen on Friday. Most likely it could be against Effross in Milwaukee, and could be back in the lineup as soon as on Sunday against the Brewers.
However, manager Boone still thinks to evaluate his fitness before restoring him to the active roster of the Yankees.
Boone said that Rizzo took ground balls, had hit in the cage, and ran “100%.” On Thursday, he won’t have much to do, but on Friday, he’ll have more to do.
The first baseman told that he was feeling better without any headaches.
DJ LeMahieu will need more time to recover from inflammation in his right toe. Boone said that he might start hitting again this weekend in Milwaukee.
LeMahieu had hoped to be back in time for the Yankees’ next homestand, which starts Tuesday when they play the Pirates.
Aaron Judge hasn’t had a day off since August 3, and Boone wants that to consider resting him before the season is over.
Boone said that the Yankees have three days off in the next eight days, which includes Thursday and Monday. He hoped that four days off would be great for the slugger, who leads the MLB in home runs.
Aaron Hicks got back into the lineup after being taken out of the game on Friday night because he messed up two plays in left field. Even though he didn’t hit a single ball, he reached base on an error in the fifth inning and scored the Yankees’ first run.
How do you see the weird delivery by Nestor Cortes? Can you replicate it? Who will be the best performer for the Yankees after returning from injury?
