SEATTLE — On an evening when the Yankees punched their ticket to the postseason, Nestor Cortes continued to make his case to be part of their playoff rotation.
The left-hander delivered six shutout innings in opposition to the Mariners on the way in which to a 2-1, 10-inning win on Wednesday evening at T-Cellular Park.
“I’m simply attempting to tug my weight round right here and compete with the fellows which can be the very best across the league,” Cortes stated amidst a rowdy champagne and beer celebration contained in the visiting clubhouse.
Cortes has now pitched to a 1.58 ERA over his final six outings — one in every of which was an extended reduction look because the Yankees put him within the bullpen one flip by way of the rotation.
Although Cortes has previous expertise out of the bullpen and will assist the Yankees there in October, he additionally has beforehand began playoff video games and has proven he’s not intimidated by the large stage.
“Nestor’s performed a unbelievable job for us this 12 months,” Gerrit Cole stated. “He’s taken the ball each single time in no matter function we’ve requested him. He’s pitched effectively and gave us an opportunity to win nearly each time he goes on the market.”
Marcus Stroman is presently the odd man out within the bullpen this flip by way of the rotation, however the Yankees should trim one other starter or two as soon as they get to the playoffs.
Wednesday’s outing was Cortes’ fourth scoreless look in his final seven video games.
He restricted the Mariners to 4 hits (one in every of them a double by Justin Turner that Jasson Dominguez ought to have caught in middle discipline) and three walks whereas putting out six.
“I really feel like he’s throwing the ball rather well,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated. “Really feel prefer it’s been an actual robust 12 months for Nestor.”
For the primary time this season — except for when he missed 5 weeks with a hamstring pressure — Giancarlo Stanton was out of the lineup Wednesday for a second straight recreation.
Stanton stated he was high quality bodily, however he was on the bench for a second straight day as Aaron Choose acquired one other DH day to assist hold him contemporary down the stretch.
“We’re not going to make this a narrative of how I really feel [about not playing],” Stanton stated earlier than the sport. “We’ll be high quality both manner.”
Stanton described being out of Tuesday’s lineup as matchup-based in opposition to robust right-hander Bryan Woo.
Then he was not going to play each Wednesday and Thursday (with Thursday being a day recreation after an evening recreation), and the Yankees determined Thursday (in opposition to right-hander Logan Gilbert) was a greater day for him to be within the lineup.
The consecutive days off might have extra to do with Boone desirous to get Choose off his toes once more at this level within the season after enjoying a demanding middle discipline often.
“Judgey’s good, however I definitely worth these days for him at the moment of the 12 months, particularly popping out of an off day [Monday],” Boone stated. “Clearly as a lot as we’ve leaned on him and others, I need to be aware of that this time of 12 months.”
Boone indicated that Stanton — who was 4-for-34 with two doubles over his final 10 video games — can be again within the lineup persistently the remainder of the way in which.
After Clay Holmes gave up a game-tying dwelling run to Justin Turner within the eighth inning, Luke Weaver entered and struck out 4 throughout 1 ²/₃ ⅔ innings to ship the sport to extras. … The Yankees struck out a season-high 15 occasions.
