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

LOS ANGELES -- Aaron Boone has 1 regret astir his pitching decisions during Game 1 of nan World Series connected Friday night.

It's not nan 1 Yankees fans would think.

With a nighttime to ponder what went incorrect successful nan 6-3 nonaccomplishment to nan Los Angeles Dodgers successful 10 innings, nan Yankees head said earlier Game 2 connected Saturday that he still would person put Nestor Cortes into a high-leverage business pinch 1 retired successful nan 10th inning contempt not pitching since Sept. 18. Cortes gave up a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman successful his first quality successful complete a month.

What Boone would person done differently, though, is he would person had Luke Weaver spell longer.

“I person nary problem pinch Nestor. Even aft nan fact, I consciousness for illustration that was nan correct move pinch 1 out,” Boone said. “The biggest point is, do I nonstop (Weaver) backmost retired location for nan 3rd up? That’s nan 1 that I quibble.”

Weaver, nan Yankees’ champion alleviation pitcher during nan postseason, retired each 5 hitters he faced successful 1 2/3 innings. The right-hander came successful pinch 1 retired successful nan eighth and Shohei Ohtani connected third. A sacrifice alert by Mookie Betts brought successful Ohtani to necktie it astatine 2.

Jake Cousins replaced Weaver successful nan 10th. Cousins sewage Will Smith to alert retired but walked Gavin Lux and gave up an infield azygous to Tommy Edman. That's erstwhile Boone went to Cortes.

Weaver threw 19 pitches. Had he faced a mates much batters, he apt would not person been disposable until nan Series went to New York for Game 3 connected Monday.

“He’s transportation efficient, but evidently asking him to get 8 outs, that’s a small spot of a different animal than moreover he’s gone done this postseason,” Boone said.

Had location been 2 outs erstwhile Cousins sewage into trouble, Boone said he would person gone pinch Tim Hill. But Boone sided pinch Cortes pinch 1 retired because Hill pitches to interaction and tends to springiness up hits.

Boone besides noted that Ohtani’s occurrence facing sliders, Hill’s go-to pitch, besides factored into going pinch Cortes. Cortes retired Ohtani and intentionally walked Betts earlier Freeman’s slam.

Boone besides faced disapproval complete lifting starter Gerrit Cole aft 88 pitches. Cole allowed only 1 tally connected 4 hits and struck retired 4 successful six-plus innings.

Yankees awesome Derek Jeter, who is moving his 2nd World Series for Fox, eviscerated his erstwhile teammate's decision.

Jeter said connected Fox’s postgame show Friday night: “He was dominating nan game. And if you return him retired aft 88 pitches for I don’t cognize what reason, it’s a domino effect connected not only this game, but tomorrow’s crippled and nan remainder of nan series. I conscionable deliberation erstwhile you person personification who’s dealing for illustration Gerrit Cole was dealing tonight, you time off him retired location arsenic agelong arsenic you can.”

Boone said nan agelong series of astatine bats during nan past six batters Cole faced was why Boone pulled him.

“You conscionable person to return my connection for it,” said Boone connected why he thought Cole was done.

Boone said he still has assurance successful Cortes for nan remainder of nan series.

“He’s good. We connected past night. He wants nan shot again,” Boone said.

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