Nestor Cortes shoves with rotation crunch coming as Juan Soto, Yankees walk off Red Sox

With a rotation crunch coming, Nestor Cortes made a strong argument to remain part of the group on Thursday night.

The lefty looked sharp in the Yankees’ 2-1, 10-inning, walk-off win over the Red Sox, permitting just one earned run and three hits over five innings. Cortes also tied his season-high with nine strikeouts while walking three over 92 pitches.

“The fastball was really good today,” Cortes said after the pitch induced 12 whiffs. “Had a lot of life. Was throwing hard. At times a little scattered, but was able to make pitches when I needed to.”

The one run Cortes allowed, a Danny Jansen homer in the fifth, kept the game close enough for Juan Soto to make sure the southpaw’s start didn’t go to waste.

The slugger played the part of hero for the second straight night, delivering a walk-off single in the 10th inning. As Gleyber Torres safely slid into home following the knock, the Yankees rushed to mob Soto near second base.

“Those guys were running hard on me,” Soto said after his first walk-off hit as a Yankee. “That’s one of the biggest things I’m gonna remember. I just didn’t know where to go, but definitely, it was a fun way to finish the game.”

Prior to Soto’s clutch at-bat, Cortes put the Yankees’ rotation plans front and center with his performance.

The team is currently in the midst of a six-man turn through the rotation, but it will likely revert to a five-man staff following Monday’s off day. Barring any injuries, a starter will move to the bullpen. Aaron Boone has said the Yankees will consider results, fit, opponent and previous bullpen experience when making that determination.

A former swingman, Cortes has significant relief experience, and he temporarily moved to the bullpen last weekend when Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt returned from the injured list.

Cortes wasn’t happy about the move, but he performed well while piggybacking off of Schmidt’s start on Sept. 7. Cortes held the Cubs scoreless and hitless for 4.1 innings that day.

“Nestor likes competition,” Boone said Thursday. “In a lot of ways, Nestor has always been that guy that has proved people wrong or had to earn everything he’s got. He’s succeeded in that role before, so I felt like, on a one-off there with going behind Clarke, a right-hander, bringing in Nestor is a good fit for doing that one time around. But the reality is he’s thrown the ball really well the last month.”

Cortes, meanwhile, acknowledged being upset in Chicago. However, he’s ready and willing to do whatever is asked of him moving forward.

“No matter where I am, there’s always that chip on my shoulder as far as belonging here, belonging in the big leagues,” said Cortes, a 36th-round draft pick on his third stint with the Yankees. “I never want to lose that edge. It’s what keeps me going.

“I know I made my comments last week, got my point across, was a little pissed, but I moved on. Like I said, if this team needs me to come out of the bullpen, I will.”

With the Yankees’ rotation about to dwindle, Cortes may head back to the bullpen. He is familiar with the work, has solid command and can help the Yankees match up with his left arm. Because of all that, the case can be made that he profiles better as a reliever than any other starter on the team. However, he also made a case to stay in the rotation on Thursday despite an inconsistent season overall.

Cortes said that he had not been told if he will make what would be his next start, but he planned on asking about that on Friday.

“I’m going to go about it as if I am, and if I’m not, then I’m not,” Cortes said.

Earlier in the game, the Yankees had a tough time with Boston starter Cooper Criswell following Torres’ leadoff homer. The Red Sox righty logged 5.1 innings, four hits, one earned run, three walks and four strikeouts.

Thursday’s game also saw Aaron Judge’s homerless streak reach 16 games, setting a new career-high. Baseball’s home run leader has been stuck on 51 dingers since crushing two longballs on Aug. 25 against the Rockies.

Judge came a few feet short of ending his streak in the first inning, as he drove a ball to the right field warning track for a flyout.

“Even for guys like him, they still come in bunches, and you’re going to have those stretches,” Boone said. “I guess it’s amazing that he has avoided those, but that’s just testament to how good of a hitter he is and how much power he has.

Now 85-62 after their second straight walk-off win, the first-place Yankees have a two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East standings.

They will turn to Schmidt on Friday. Tanner Houck is expected to start for Boston after recently dealing with a dead arm.

Originally Published: September 12, 2024 at 10:33 p.m.