Cole’s bases-empty IBB to Devers backfires: ‘Clearly, that was a mistake’
NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole stepped off the mound, flashing four fingers wide to point Rafael Devers toward first base. After years of being hit hard by the Red Sox slugger, the Yankees’ ace seemed ready to try a new strategy.
Cole walked Devers intentionally with the bases empty and one out in the fourth inning on Saturday, an unorthodox nod of respect from the hurler toward his arch-nemesis. Devers looked back quizzically at home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, then tossed his bat aside.
The decision soon backfired for Cole and the Yankees, setting up a three-run Boston inning that unraveled the hurler’s afternoon and prompted numerous questions following New York’s 7-1 loss at Yankee Stadium.
“Clearly, that was a mistake,” Cole said. “I think that I bought into the plan going into it, but afterward, it was the wrong move.”
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Cole has not been shy about his struggles against Devers, who came into Saturday’s action with 13 hits in 39 at-bats (.333) and eight home runs off Cole. Those eight homers are the most against any opponent for both Cole and Devers.
In fact, during a press conference at Yankee Stadium earlier this week honoring Hispanic Heritage Day, Cole was asked which Latin hitter has given him the most trouble. He did not hesitate: “Rafael Devers.”
Devers’ dominance was also a topic in the Yanks’ pre-series meetings.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the team discussed being open to intentionally walking Devers in non-traditional spots. Still, given the game situation, he thought Cole was “overthinking the situation,” and he would have liked his ace to go after Devers.
“Once we scored the run [in the third inning], my preference would have been, ‘Let’s attack him,’” Boone said. “But obviously, I didn’t communicate that well enough. I think Gerrit was a little indecisive out there and rolled with it.”
