The New York Yankees won Monday afternoon’s game against the Texas Rangers, a low-scoring affair that finished 1-0 in favor of the Bombers.
Jon Gray and Nestor Cortes Jr. exchanged zeroes all afternoon, but in the end, the Rangers’ bullpen couldn’t keep the Yankees scoreless and surrendered a run-scoring double to Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The highlight of the day, however, wasn’t Rizzo: it was Cortes.
The funky left-hander held the Rangers without a hit for 7.1 innings before finally conceding an Eli White single to center field.
Not only has Cortes been the Yanks’ most reliable pitcher this year to the surprise of everyone, but he is now having no-hit bids.
What a remarkable season it has been for him.
“Nestor Cortes gives up his first hit with one out in the 8th, and comes out of the game after 103 pitches. He gets standing ovation from #Yankees crowd after his career-high 7 1/3-inning performance. Still no score,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted.
Nestor Cortes gives up his first hit with one out in the 8th, and comes out of the game after 103 pitches. He gets standing ovation from #Yankees crowd after his career-high 7 1/3-inning performance. Still no score.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 9, 2022
The run would come in the bottom part of that inning.
A Majestic Performance
Cortes was masterful on Monday: he only allowed the aforementioned hit and walked four, but struck out 11 Rangers and completely held them off the scoreboard.
For the season, Cortes now has a 1.42 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP, with 42 strikeouts in 32 frames.
He has been the best pitcher in a talented rotation that also has Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Jameson Taillon, and Luis Severino.
It’s amazing to see him change speeds, throw a wide array of pitches, messing with hitters’ timing, and showing impeccable command to get the job done with a 91 mph fastball.
He came very close to making history.
With the way he is pitching, it wouldn’t be shocking if he pitched a no-hitter eventually.
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