Manager Alex Cora accused Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole of intentionally hitting Red Sox star Rafael Devers in the first inning because he didn't want to face the slugger who had dominated him throughout his career.
Cora's reasoning was simple.
When the Yankees ace intentionally walked Devers with no bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning and the team trailing by one, it was clear Cole was trying to avoid him.
“They can say whatever they want. An intentional walk is [made it] “I said very clearly, 'I don't want to play against him,'” Cora fumed after Boston beat the Yankees 7-1 in the Bronx on Saturday. “The second pitch of the game against Raffy, you see it. It was on purpose. I'm not backing down.”
Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Bello was even more blunt, saying Cole's departure “showed a huge weakness.”
Cole denied intentionally throwing at Devers.
He hit it with a cut fastball that was 91 mph.
There was confusion as to who called the intentional walk.
Cole said the reason was that the Yankees' relief corps was thin and they wanted to avoid extended at-bats against Devers.
“I feel like I was surprised. I didn't expect a future Hall of Famer to do something like that,” Devers said through a translator. “I feel like I panicked a little bit.”
Devers entered the game with eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 43 at-bats against Cole, but he has struggled overall recently, having not hit a home run since Aug. 25 and posting a .507 OPS in September.
The Red Sox gained momentum after Devers walked, scoring three runs in the fourth inning against Cole and four more in the fifth, before Devers was replaced with one out in the inning.
The fourth inning comeback began with Devers stealing second base for his third time this season.
Prior to the walk, Cole had retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced.
He collapsed after walking four batters, including a two-run single by Devers with the bases loaded in the fifth.
“It feels good, that's what I try to do every time I'm up to bat,” Devers said. “I was trying to get a hit and today it was a big two-run hit. It's huge to be able to help my team out against one of the best pitchers in the league.”
Devers wasn't sure if Cole intentionally hit in the first inning.
He called it the “old-fashioned” baseball that infielders prefer.
His manager seemed even more upset about it.
“You don't want to purposely hit a guy, you know? He could get hurt,” Cora said. “Especially in the situation they're in? After 23 games. [.500]If you hit someone and they get hurt, [them] “We're in a bad situation. We want our best players to play every day. We want Aaron Judge to play every day, regardless of his record against us. That's the best thing about our sport.”
The Red Sox manager added: “He's one of the best pitchers on the planet. Yes. He got him out, he struck him out. Gerrit Cole, I always say, is one of the best pitchers on the planet. He decided not to face him today.”
