MLB
The way the Yankees’ bats are going, Nestor Cortez couldn’t afford his one bad inning.
However, the way Nestor Cortes is going suggests he should have fewer disappointing nights ahead of him this season.
Cortez was strong again — continuing a trend of excellent work from the Yankees’ rotation even without Gerrit Cole — in the A’s 3-1 loss in the Bronx on Thursday.
For his second straight shutout and third in his last four, Cortez lasted at least seven innings.
He was efficient, walking none, allowing five hits and three runs, all of which came on two swings in the third inning.
Oakland’s Nick Allen hit a home run — “I thought we threw too many fastballs to Allen there,” Cortez said — before Tyler Nevin hit a two-run homer, Cortes again bemoaning his fastball choice.
Otherwise, though, the lefty sailed away and said he’s back again feeling healthy. Cortez — who is coming off an injury-riddled season — had to be suspended in December because his shoulder wasn’t recovering well during offseason workouts.
Six starts into his season, he has a 3.50 ERA and a shoulder that is on the mend.
“I feel like I’m healthy,” said Cortes, who was also pleased with his command. “I feel like I’m recovering really well. So now I’m on the program, I’m staying with the program and I’m following it as best I can to keep going out every five days.”
Without Cole, Yankees starters posted a 3.06 ERA, which ranked fourth in baseball after Thursday’s game ended. Yankees starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 23 of their 26 starts this year.
“Certainly where they are,” manager Aaron Boone said of his rotation. “And he sure likes how they throw the ball and give us a chance every night.”
After the loss, the Yankees optioned right-hander Cody Morris to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which could open up a roster spot for new pickup Michael Tonkin.
Clay Holmes’ nine saves are the most in baseball.
The closer owns a 0.00 ERA in 12 innings in which Holmes — who has had fits of wildness in the past — has totaled one walk.
The underrated reliever, who arrived in the 2021 trade with the Pirates, has been about as consistent as his manager has seen him.
“I feel like we have a more polished, finished pitcher than even the one we’ve had and seen dominate at different times over the last couple of years,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s just getting better with his delivery and his arsenal. When something isn’t quite right, being able to adjust on the fly better.”
If Holmes is authoring his best season, it will come at an opportune time for the soon-to-be free agent.
The 31-year-old remains as difficult to lift balls as any pitcher in baseball — entering the game with a 67.6 percent ground ball percentage — a skill that’s especially useful in Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.
Holmes showed no signs of worry about his upcoming free agency, which is on-brand for a right-hander who, even when his stuff has failed him, has remained a club presence.
“He’s such a good professional,” Boone said. “He handles everything that comes your way in a big league season, especially as a closer, a back reliever where you’re going to have bumps. When he encounters bumps in the road along the way, he always handles them very well.
“I feel like he’s a really good worker. Obviously since we’ve had him, he’s been really, really good the last few years. But he is never truly satisfied. He’s always working to get a little better all the time at his craft.”
The Yankees claimed Tonkin, who has become the most traveled pitcher in baseball this season, earlier in the day.
The 34-year-old right-hander managed to crack the Mets’ Opening Day roster, but appeared in just three games before being designated for assignment.
The Twins picked him up and watched him play one game before DFA’ing him out.
The Mets sought him out again and he pitched Saturday and Sunday for them before another DFA.
Now the Yankees have added Tonkin, who was solid last season for the Braves, with whom he pitched to a 4.28 ERA as a long man out of the bullpen.
“Certainly a guy that can give you some time, a guy that had success this year and was a really good pitcher last year,” Boone said of Tonkin. “A chance to get a good pitcher [we] I feel it can help us.”
The Yankees designated righty McKinley Moore for assignment to add Tonkin to the 40-man roster.
Infielder John Berti, who has been out since April 10 with a left groin strain, could begin rehab on Sunday, Boone said.
Bertie took hitting and ground ball practice before Thursday’s game, and Boone said he would have to go through “a few rough days” before being cleared for the assignment.
Whenever Berti is ready, the Yankees — who are without a backup first baseman or a backup infielder as Osvaldo Cabrera has become the everyday third baseman without DJ LeMahieu — will be happy to welcome the versatile outfielder back.
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