![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/larrybrownsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/aaron-boone.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
May 6, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Aaron Boone\u2019s bold decision in Game 1 of the World Series did not pay off on Friday night, and he had to answer questions afterwards about his choice.<\/p>\n
Boone\u2019s New York Yankees had taken the lead 3-2 in the top of the 10th inning of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., and were looking to close things out. Jake Cousins had come in to pitch the bottom of the 10th and put two runners on with one out.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when Boone decided to make a pitching change, and he went to Nestor Cortes.<\/p>\n
Cortes hadn\u2019t pitch in a game since September 18 and missed the Yankees\u2019 first two postseason series due to an elbow injury. Despite that, Boone chose to go to the southpaw in the most tense situation of the game.<\/p>\n
The move looked fine at first as Cortes, a southpaw, got Shohei Ohtani to foul out. Then the Yankees walked Mookie Betts intentionally to load the bases with two outs and bring up another lefty in Freddie Freeman. Freeman went on to\u00a0hit the first walk-off grand slam\u00a0in World Series history.<\/p>\n
Cortes didn\u2019t take the loss in the game because the runs that scored were Cousins\u2019 responsibility, but Cortes certainly bore the weight of the defeat.<\/p>\n
Boone had to answer after the game why he chose to make that situation Cortes\u2019 first pitching opportunity in over a month.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust liked the matchup. He\u2019s been throwing the ball really well over the last few weeks as he\u2019s gotten ready for this . . . I felt convicted with Nestor in that spot,\u201d Boone said.<\/p>\n