<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3tax68_0wO6ol5l00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tax68_0wO6ol5l00" width="2048" height="1366" ><figcaption>(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>Despite not having pitched in a game for over a month, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone called on Nestor Cortes to close out Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, but he was unable to shut the door and surrendered the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to Freddie Freeman to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the Fall Classic.It was a difficult spot to be put in, and many are questioning Boone’s decision to call Cortes’ number.YES Network shared a clip of Cortes speaking after the game, and he pointed out that he got Shohei Ohtani out on a high fastball that was located well, but when trying to do the same with Freeman, he left it down, and we all saw what happened.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I got Shohei Ohtani out on a fastball up that I commanded real well. Tried to do the same to Freddie Freeman and left it a little down.– Nestor Cortes on his pitch to Freddie Freeman <a href="https://t.co/EOw2gS9mcz">pic.twitter.com/EOw2gS9mcz</a>— YES Network (@YESNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/1850036541860741503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Even though Cortes hadn’t pitched since September 18th, he said he was ready to go since the fourth inning and had been periodically warming up in anticipation of his number being called to handle some of LA’s tough lefties.He had historically done well against Ohtani, but intentionally walking Mookie Betts to face Freeman even though it generated a lefty-on-lefty matchup is something that will be questioned forever if the Yankees are unable to come back and win this series.Freeman has repeatedly delivered in these situations even against lefties, while Betts has had his share of struggles in the playoffs.Obviously, hindsight is 20/20, so who knows what the outcome would have been if Boone had done things differently.Regardless, the Yankees need to move on and try to win Game 2.</div></body>

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Nestor Cortes Reveals His Thoughts On Giving Up Game-Winning Home Run In Game 1

Despite not having pitched in a game for over a month, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone called on Nestor Cortes to close out Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, but he was unable to shut the door and surrendered the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to Freddie Freeman to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the Fall Classic.