Nestor’s gem sets stage for Yankees’ nail-biting win over Mariners

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The New York Yankees clinched their postseason berth after a thrilling 2-1 win over the Mariners in 10 innings at T-Mobile Park. While it came with Anthony Rizzo’s clutch hit and grit of the bullpen, the real groundwork was made by Nestor Cortes.

The Yankees left-hander delivered six scoreless innings against the Mariners and made a compelling case for a spot in the team’s playoff rotation. Amid the postgame celebrations, Cortes expressed his eagerness to contribute in October, saying he relishes the chance to compete against the league’s best.

“I’m just trying to pull my weight around here and compete with the guys that are the best around the league,” he said wild celebration pervaded the team clubhouse.

His recent form has been impressive, posting a 1.58 ERA over his last six outings, including a brief stint in the bullpen when the Yankees adjusted their rotation.

While Cortes has proven himself in relief roles and could be utilized that way in the playoffs, he’s also started in postseason games, showing he can handle the intensity of high-stakes matchups. Teammate Gerrit Cole praised Cortes for his versatility and consistency, noting that he’s been a reliable option for the Yankees all season.

“Nestor’s done a fantastic job for us this year,” the Yankees ace said. “He’s taken the ball every single time in whatever role we’ve asked him. He’s pitched well and gave us a chance to win almost every time he goes out there.”

Currently, Marcus Stroman is serving time in the bullpen as part of a rotation adjustment, but with the playoffs looming, the Yankees will soon need to make decisions about their starting staff. Cortes has now recorded four scoreless outings in his last seven appearances, bolstering his case.

In his latest start, he held the Mariners to four hits and three walks while striking out six. A double by Justin Turner might have been avoided had center fielder Jasson Dominguez made a better play.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Cortes’s performance, saying the pitcher has been exceptional and is having a standout season overall.

“I feel like he’s throwing the ball really well,” Boone told after the win. “Feel like it’s been a real strong year for Nestor.”

Stanton downplays Yankees benching him again

In an unusual move, Giancarlo Stanton was benched for a second straight game on Wednesday, marking the first time this season that he sat consecutive games outside of his five-week absence due to a hamstring injury. Stanton confirmed he was healthy and explained that his absence was due to Aaron Judge serving as the designated hitter again, allowing Judge to stay fresh for the final stretch of the season.

Stanton downplayed the situation, stating that the team would be fine either way. He attributed his benching on Tuesday to a strategic decision, citing the challenge of facing Mariners’ right-hander Bryan Woo. “We’re not going to make this a story of how I feel [about not playing],” he said. “We’ll be fine either way.”

Wednesday’s rest day was planned as part of a rotation, and the Yankees hitter was originally slated to sit out Thursday’s game against Logan Gilbert, another right-hander before the team changed course.

The decision to rest Stanton appears tied to manager Aaron Boone’s efforts to manage Judge’s workload, particularly as he has been playing regularly in center field. Boone stressed the importance of giving Judge additional rest at this point in the season, noting the physical demands on the Yankees’ key players.

Boone also mentioned that despite Stanton’s recent struggles—he had gone 4-for-34 with two doubles in his last ten games—he would be back in the lineup for the remainder of the season as the team prepares for a postseason run.

In other news, reliever Clay Holmes gave up a game-tying home run to Justin Turner in the eighth inning. Luke Weaver, however, delivered a standout performance, striking out four batters over 1 2/3 innings to push the game into extra innings. The Yankees also set a season-high by striking out 15 times during the game.

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