I can see you, but I don't believe you.
Yankees announcer Michael Kay was among those perplexed by manager Gerrit Cole's controversial decision to intentionally walk Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers during Saturday's 7-1 loss.
“So Devers is up to bat,” Kay began as the Boston third baseman came up to bat in the top of the fourth inning, “and then they intentionally walk him?! No one on base and only one out?”
Kaye expressed surprise, pointing out Cole's comments from a few days earlier. He immediately identified Devers. As the Latino batter who has tormented him the most throughout his career.
On Saturday, Devers went 14-for-41 (.316) with eight home runs and 15 strikeouts against the Yankees' ace. From ESPN.
Yankees killer Devers helped the Red Sox win by having another strong game with 2 hits in 2 at-bats, 2 RBI and 2 walks.
Kay wasn't the only announcer surprised by the call, with Matt Vasgersian and Tom Verducci also appearing in disbelief on MLB Network's broadcast.
“He's purposely trying to make me walk. [him]”That was Gerrit Cole with four fingers up. Gerrit Cole with four fingers up and pointing to first base. I don't want anything to do with you,” Verducci said.
Earlier in the game, Cole hit Devers in the first inning, but after the game Red Sox manager Alex Cora was furious, claiming the action was intentional.
“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 said. “The second pitch against Raffi, you see it. It was on purpose. I'm not going to back down.”
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner's decision quickly backfired, as Boston scored three runs after a walk after Cole retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced.
The Red Sox delivered the knockout punch in the fifth inning with a two-run single by Devers off Cole.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the loss that while walking Devers at certain points had been discussed, he did not support Cole's decision in the fourth inning.
“After scoring a goal [in the third inning]”If that was the case, my preference would have been, 'Let's go at him,'” Boone said. “Gerrit was a little indecisive there, but he just went with the flow.”
Cole's final stats for the day were 4 1/3 innings, five hits, seven earned runs, three walks and just two strikeouts.
The Yankees will be looking to win three of four games against the Red Sox in their AL East rivalry Sunday afternoon at the stadium.
