Nestor Cortes Jr pitched another masterpiece — a shutout into the 8th — to outduel Michael Kopech and lead the Yanks to the 5-1 win.
The Yankees only got 2 hits all day — they got 3 runs off Kopech in the 2nd inning on a single, 3 walks, and a wild pitch after 2 were out. In the 9th, Joey Gallo hit a 2-run homer for insurance and that was it for the Yankee offense.
But it was enough for the 5-1 win to improve NY’s record to a MLB-leading 25-9. They took 3 of 4 from the White Sox — who fall to 16-17.
1. Cortes Outduels Kopech
Coming into the game Michael Kopech, the 6’4 right hander, led the league in ERA with a 0.93. After the game, the ERA leaders are as follows:
- Nestor Cortes, 1.35
- Justin Verlander, 1.38
- Michael Kopech, 1.54
- Paul Blackburn, 1.67
- Alek Manoah, 1.71
Cortes was brilliant as usual; sinker, cutter, slider, fastball.
Witness great Nes. @Cortes_1210 👊 pic.twitter.com/h1J8ED9vyp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 15, 2022
“Unbelieveable. It’s so fun to play defense behind him too; he works fast; throws strikes,” said Joey Gallo about Cortes afterwards. “I’m really glad he’s on our team and I don’t have to face him. He’s been lights out.”
Nestor was helped by his infield defense. In the 6th, Josh Donaldson made a Graig Nettles-esq play at 3rd.
JD with a diving play 👏 pic.twitter.com/kQjf4SskVs
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 15, 2022
Cortes had a shutout going into the 8th when he started to yield hard-hit balls. Luery Garcia hit a deep fly ball out to right to start the inning. Then Adam Engel homered just inside the foul poll down the left-field line to make it 3-1. It was Engel’s first homer of the year. Yasmani Grandal then hit a deep fly ball out, and Chris Harrison grounded out to Josh Donaldson at 3rd to end it.
2. Yanks Score 3 Runs on Walks & a Single
The Yanks jumped on top against the brilliant Kopech in the 2nd, when with 2 outs, Kopech momentarily lost the plate. Joey Gallo started it with a walk, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled, and then Kopech walked Jose Trevino to load the bases with 2 outs. Aaron Hicks worked a walk — fouling off two 2-2 pitches before laying off two fastballs — for a 1-0 Yankee lead. Kopech then walked DJ LaMahieu on 5 pitches to make it 2-0 NY.
Aaron Judge stepped up, and Kopech threw a wild pitch to make it 3-0 before getting Judge on a groundout.
And that was it for the Yankee scoring until the 9th — they had 3 runs on 1 hit.
Kopech pitched 6 innings, followed by Ryan Burr and Reynoldo Lopez who pitched a shutout inning each.
3. Gallo Provides Insurance
Despite the brilliant outing by Cortes, it was only a 3-1 game entering the 9th inning. Jose Ruiz came in to pitch the 9th and got the first 2 outs, before walking Josh Donaldson.
Joey Gallo hit an important 2-run homer to right for a 5-1 lead.
The one where Joey hits a dinger 💪 pic.twitter.com/oklCHpOr6y
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 15, 2022
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401354758
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