Aaron Boone defends using Cortes in World Series opener and regrets not sticking with Weaver longer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Boone regrets his pitching decisions during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

It's not what Yankees fans would think.

After a night of pondering what went wrong in the 6-3, 10-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees manager said before Game 2 on Saturday that he still had Nestor Cortes with one out in would have put him in a high-leverage situation in the 10th inning, even though he hadn't pitched since September 18. Cortes gave up a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in his first appearance in over a month.

What Boone would have done differently, however, is that he would have let Luke Weaver play longer.

“I have no problem with Nestor. Even in hindsight, I feel like leaving was the right move,” Boone said. “The biggest thing is, do I send (Weaver) back out for third? That’s what I’m arguing about.”

Weaver, the Yankees' best reliever of the postseason, retired all five batters he faced in 1 2/3 innings. The right-hander entered the game with one out in the eighth and Shohei Ohtani in the third. A sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts made it 2-0 for Ohtani.

Jake Cousins ​​replaced Weaver in the 10th game. Cousins ​​got Will Smith to fly out, but walked Gavin Lux and gave up an infield single to Tommy Edman. Then Boone went to Cortes.

Weaver threw 19 pitches. Had he faced a few more batters, he probably wouldn't have been available until the series went to New York for Game 3 on Monday.

“He's pitch-efficient, but obviously asking him to get eight outs is a lot different than what even he went through this postseason,” Boone said.

According to Boone, had there been two outs when Cousins ​​got into trouble, he would have chosen Tim Hill. But Boone sided with Cortes with one out because Hill bats to contact and tends to give up hits.

Boone also noted that Ohtani's success with the slider, Hill's favorite spot, also helped him choose Cortes. Cortes pulled Ohtani back and intentionally walked past Betts before Freeman's slam.

Boone was also criticized for lifting starter Gerrit Cole after 88 pitches. Cole allowed just one run on four hits and struck out four in six-plus innings.

Yankees great Derek Jeter, playing his second World Series for Fox, has debunked his former teammate's decision.

Jeter said on Fox’s postgame show Friday night: “He dominated the game. And if you take him out after 88 pitches, I don't know for what reason, it has a ripple effect not only for this game but for tomorrow's game and the rest of the series. I just think when you have someone who acts like Gerrit Cole did tonight, you keep him out there as long as possible.”

Boone said the long sequence of at-bats over the last six batters Cole faced was the reason Boone pulled him.

“You’re just going to have to take my word for it,” Boone said of why he thought Cole was done.

Boone said he still has faith in Cortes for the rest of the series.

“He's good. We connected last night. He wants the ball again,” Boone said.

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