Yankees' Boone faces backlash after Cortes blunder in World Series Game 1
- In the World Series Game 1, Yankees manager Aaron Boone faced scrutiny for using Nestor Cortes, who had not pitched in over a month, to close out the game.
- Cortes allowed a walk and a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman, leading to the Yankees' defeat against the Dodgers.
- The decision was defended by Boone, but the outcome raised questions about the appropriateness of the move given Cortes' inactivity.
In the high-stakes atmosphere of the World Series Game 1, held on October 25, 2024, the New York Yankees faced the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following a competitive game, manager Aaron Boone’s controversial decision to insert Nestor Cortes, who had been sidelined for 37 days due to an arm injury, backfired dramatically. The Yankees were seeking a key one-inning shutdown, yet Cortes' inexperience after a long break was evident during this high-pressure moment. Cortes initially faced Shohei Ohtani but managed to only give up a foul ball, which could have signaled a promising start. However, he subsequently walked Mookie Betts, loading the bases before giving up a first-pitch fastball that Freddie Freeman smashed for a walk-off grand slam. This marked a historic moment as it was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and sealed a significant victory for the Dodgers. Boone cited Cortes’ favorable past statistics against Ohtani in his decision but faced backlash for sidelining Tim Hill, a pitcher with a strong postseason record. The decision was met with questions regarding the strategy, as many fans felt it put the team's season at risk. As the Yankees prepare for Game 2, the pressure mounts for Boone and his players to recover and demonstrate resilience following such a shocking defeat, underscoring the intense scrutiny and high expectations of World Series competition.