From Our Contributors, Sports

Yanks Enjoying Home Cooking

Cortes Flirted With A No-No
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
 
By Andrew Rosario
 
There’s no place like home for the New York Yankees early in the 2022 season. After shutting out the Texas Rangers 1-0 this past Monday after another superb start by Nestor Cortes, the Bronx Bombers improved their overall record to 20-8. They have a 12-4 record in the place that George Steinbrenner built and are 8-4 on the road. Against teams with a .500 record or better, they are 7-3 and have 8 of their last 10 games. When they began a 2-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, they had a 3-game lead over them.
 
Cortes, who took a no-hitter into the 8th inning before giving up a single to Rangers center fielder Eli White, struck out 11 in 7 1/3 innings. After the win, the pitching staff as a group have only giving up 75 runs, the lowest in the American League.
 
 
 
 
Anthony Rizzo was responsible for the games only run when he drove in Aaron Judge with a single in the bottom of the 8th. Said Rizzo of Cortes’ performance, “it’s just who he is.” The Yanks did struggle at the plate finishing the game with only 5 hits. Texas managed only 2 hits. 
 
In his 6 starts for the Pinstripes, Cortes is 1-1 with a 1.41 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 32 innings. Cortes was blown in 1994 in Cuba and was the 1st round draft pick (9th overall) had struggled since making it to the majors. This his third time with the Yankees and along with a cutter that baffles batters, he can throw a fastball in the low 90’s.
 
Both Rangers infielders were quick to compliment the south paw with his trade mark mustache. Said Marcus Semien, “he keeps you off balance.” Corey Seager took notice of Cortes’ different pitch styles. “He mixes arm angles, he mixes speeds. It’s never the same. That makes it difficult to stay on time,” Seager concluded.
 
After the Wednesday matinee, the New York Yankees travel to Chicago for a three game series against the White Sox. Cortes’ next start should be against the Baltimore Orioles. Both Cortes and the team are hoping he can continue putting up zeros.