Nestor Cortes returns to Yankees rotation with a flourish against Red Sox

At least for one turn, Nestor Cortes returned to the Yankees’ starting rotation with a strong showing following a stellar relief outing last weekend.

The former All-Star lefty worked five innings of one-run ball Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the Red Sox, with the Yankees eventually pulling out a 2-1 victory in 10 innings at the Stadium.

Cortes initially had expressed displeasure with his demotion after working 4 ¹/₃ innings of no-hit ball to earn a win in relief of returning starter Clarke Schmidt in a 2-0 win last Saturday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

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“I’m just trying to go out there and throw up as many zeroes as I can,” Cortes said after Thursday’s game. “I know last week I might have come off like I was asking for too much, but I got my point across, and at the end of the day, I’m going to do whatever this team needs for me to do to win.

“The goal, we have it in sight, and we’re two weeks away. All we want to do is win ballgames and get to October. Whether that’s out of the bullpen or starting, I’m going to be there for the team.”

After admitting he was “upset” that he was shifted to the bullpen to accommodate Schmidt’s return from the injured list, Cortes backtracked earlier this week and said he’d embrace any role Aaron Boone has in store for him for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

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With Schmidt’s return, the Yankees suddenly have six viable starting pitchers, including Cortes, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman and Luis Gil.

“Nestor likes competition. I think, in a lot of ways, Nestor always has been that guy who’s proved people wrong, and had to earn everything he’s got,” Boone said. “He’s succeeded in that [relief] role before, so I figured in going with a one-off and going behind Clarke, a right-hander, bringing in Nestor was a good fit.

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“But the reality is, he’s thrown the ball really well the last month, and tonight was more of the same.”

The 29-year-old Cortes is 9-10 with a 3.90 ERA this season, but he leads the team with 168 ¹/₃ innings pitched. He made the most of his reprieve Thursday, leaving a 1-1 game after five innings (92 pitches) with three hits allowed while walking three and striking out nine.

Boston’s lone run against him was a solo homer by catcher Danny Jansen in the fifth.

“No, [on Friday] when I come in, I’ll probably ask,” Cortes replied when asked if he’d been told whether he’ll make his next start. “As of now, I don’t know anything. I’m going to go about it as if I am [starting], and if I’m not, I’m not.”

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