Video: Yankees’ Aaron Boone explains throwing Cortes to Dodgers’ Freeman in G1 loss | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained his decision to start Nestor Cortes in the bottom of the 10th inning after a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

“I just enjoyed the match,” Boone told reporters after the game. “The reality is he’s been throwing the ball really well the last few weeks as he’s been preparing for this. I knew it would be difficult to double Shohei if one was out there. When Tim Hill takes him to the floor and then Mookie gets behind him. It’s a tough matchup there, so I felt confident in that situation with Nestor.”

Boone inserted Cortes, who made his first appearance since September 18. While the 29-year-old was a key member of the Yankees’ starting lineup during the regular season, he was also left off their roster in the American League Division Series as well as the Championship Series due to a Stress on the elbow flexors.

Cortes was selected Friday in place of Tim Hill, who has allowed just one earned run in 5.2 innings in New York’s current postseason trip.

The decision to bypass Betts and pitch Freeman was also an interesting move. While the eight-time All-Star was coming off a National League Championship Series in which he posted a .346 batting average with two home runs and nine RBIs in six games, he had no success against Cortes.

In fact, prior to Friday night’s contest, Betts had not scored in five career appearances against the left-hander.

Freeman faced Cortes three times before the opening game of the Fall Classic, scoring a brace. While the star first baseman was dealing with a right ankle sprain in the postseason, bringing him to the plate with the bases loaded was a risky move by Boone, and it ultimately didn’t work out.

Game 2 between New York and Los Angeles takes place on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. ET.