Cortes strong outside of one tough inning
The way the Yankees’ bats are going, Nestor Cortes couldn’t afford his one bad inning.
The way Nestor Cortes is going, though, hints that there should be lessfrustrating nights ahead of him this season.
Cortes again was strong — continuing a trend of excellent work from a Yankees’ rotation even without Gerrit Cole — in a 3-1 loss to the A’s in The Bronx on Thursday.
For a second straight outing and third in his past four, Cortes lasted at least seven innings. He was efficient, walked none, allowed five hits and three runs, all of which came on two swings in the third inning.
First Oakland’s Nick Allen smacked a home run — “I thought we threw too many fastballs to Allen there,” Cortes said — before Tyler Nevin blasted a two-run shot, Cortes again bemoaning his choice of a fastball.
Otherwise, though, the lefty sailed and said he came away again feeling healthy. Cortes — who is coming off a poor, injuryfilled season — had to be shut down in December because his shoulder was not recovering well during offseason workouts.
Six starts into his season, he is sporting a 3.50 ERA and a shoulder that is recovering.
“I feel like I”m healthy,” said Cortes, who also was pleased with his command. “I feel like I’m recuperating real well. So it’s now keeping up with the program, staying with the program and follow it as best as I can to keep on going out there every five days.”
Without Cole, Yankees starters have posted a 3.06 ERA, which ranked fourth in baseball upon the conclusion of Thursday’s game. Yankees starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 23 of their 26 starts this year.
➤ Following the loss, the Yankees optioned righty Cody Morris to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which could be opening a roster spot for new pickup Michael Tonkin.
The Yankees claimed Tonkin, who has become the most well-traveled pitcher in baseball this season, earlier in the day.
The 34-year-old righty cracked the Mets’ Opening Day roster but pitched in just three games before he was designated for assignment. The Twins picked him up and watched him pitch one game before DFA’ing him. The Mets again claimed him, and he pitched Saturday and Sunday for them before yet another DFA.
The Yankees designated Triple-A righty McKinley Moore for assignment in order to add Tonkin to the 40man roster.
➤ Infielder Jon Berti, who has been out since April 10 with a left groin strain, could begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Boone said.
Berti took batting practice and fielded ground balls before Thursday’s game, and Boone said he would need to get through “a couple of heavy days” before being cleared for the assignment.
Whenever Berti is ready, the Yankees — who do not have a backup first baseman or backup shortstop because Oswaldo Cabrera has become the everyday third baseman without DJ LeMahieu — would gladly welcome back the flexible infielder.