Inside The Pinstripes

Nestor Cortes Has Only One Regret From First Career Postseason Start

Cortes threw five innings in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday, allowing two earned runs while striking out three batters.

Max Goodman

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NEW YORK — Nestor Cortes made the first postseason appearance of his career on Friday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Guardians and as he's done all year, the left-hander gave his team a chance to win.

Cortes pounded the zone with his fastball-cutter mix, induced plenty of weak contact and even made an acrobatic defensive play on the mound, snagging a comebacker before throwing to first from the seat of his pants, stranding two runners on base.

After the game, Cortes was kicking himself over one pitch that he threw just before his web gem in the fourth, an offering that he wishes he could have back. 

Holding a two-run lead, Cortes had two runners on with two men out and second baseman Andrés Giménez at the plate. Jumping ahead 0-2, Cortes tried to catch the left-handed hitter off balance with a sweeping slider, a pitch that Giménez was able to hook into right field for an RBI single. 

"I wish I could take back that Giménez pitch, 0-2, just can't miss over the plate," Cortes said after the game, a 4-2 loss in 10 innings. 

Looking at the replay, it's not an awful pitch. Jose Trevino's glove doesn't move too much behind the plate from the spot Cortes was shooting for. Sometimes you need to tip your cap, especially against a team that excels at putting the ball in play. Cortes had just three strikeouts on Friday, 

Besides, you can argue that Cortes' 1-0 fastball to Amed Rosario the next inning—a game-tying solo home run to right-center field—was a bigger miss. Or perhaps it was errant pitches to the bottom of Cleveland's order. All three of Cortes' walks came against either the No. 6 or No. 8 hitters in the Guardians' lineup.

Evaluating his start as a whole, Cortes said he felt like he had more in him. He threw 92 pitches, but ran into trouble in his last two frames, forcing Yankees manager Aaron Boone to call to his bullpen.

"Two runs in five innings. I kept them in the game but I think I should have been better," the All-Star strater said. "The Giménez pitch, I wish I could get it back. We wouldn't be talking about this right now."

While there's a good chance Cortes won't pitch again in this series—Thursday's rainout cut one day of rest away from the lefty when it comes to a return in a possible Game 5—the southpaw assured that he'll be available whenever his team needs him, even if it's on short rest.

"I'll be ready," he said. "Game 5, it's all or nothing. So you gotta lay it out in the field, but hopefully we don't have to get there

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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