The New York Yankees had a prime chance to all but eliminate their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, from playoff contention. Heading into the crucial four-game series, the Red Sox were trailing by 4 games for the third Wild Card spot with only 16 games remaining. The Yankees made matters worse for Boston by winning the first two games of the series, each by a narrow margin. With reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole scheduled to pitch the third game, New York hoped to clinch the season and deliver another blow to the Red Sox.
However, Cole’s ongoing difficulties against Boston persisted. Before Saturday’s game, he had a 4.84 ERA in 18 starts against the Red Sox, and his struggles continued as he gave up seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings.
Rafael Devers found himself squarely in the center of it, much to the surprise of no one. The unexpected thing about his involvement is that it was not how anyone would have expected.
Alex Cora is very upset Rafael Devers was hit by Gerrit Cole. Called it intentional. Not pleased at all. “He didn’t want to face him today.”
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 14, 2024
Cole, a pitcher who only days earlier had referred to Devers as the Latin hitter who had caused him the most trouble, seemed to have no interest in the star third baseman. That’s exactly what his first two at-bats demonstrated, and let’s just say Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not pleased with the way Cole handled him.
After the game, Cora claimed that the hit-by-pitch was deliberate. Though it’s possible that intent existed at the time, there are also indications that it didn’t. Cole delivered a 91.2 mph cutter to Devers. He probably would have hit Devers with a harder four-seam fastball if he had truly intended to hit him, not after Devers had hit him with a first-pitch strike.
Gerrit Cole shows Rafael Devers the ultimate sign of respect and intentionally walks him with the bases empty 🫡 pic.twitter.com/XQzIc2DrrO
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2024
Cole’s aversion to Devers appeared to be as strong as ever, even though it was only his second at-bat of the day. Despite retiring all nine batters after Devers, Cole chose to intentionally walk his opponent with one out and no one on in the fourth inning.
It was the ultimate show of respect, but it was also an odd move. Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young champion, should not be purposely walking anyone, especially in the fourth inning when the bases are empty. Devers could not have done worse than blast a solo home run to tie the game at one. Instead, Cole’s choice sparked a game-ending rally.
No intentional walk for Raffy this time 😉 pic.twitter.com/W6zE9sBP9S
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2024
The Red Sox scored three runs immediately after the walk, and then added four more in the fifth, due to Devers’ two-run single.
There is no way around this. Cole’s choice to purposefully walk Devers was cowardly. Cora is unhappy about a hit-by-pitch, which is more difficult to determine. Again, it wasn’t a fastball, but a cutter. Cole, knowing Devers’ past against him, was very certainly attempting to jam him inside and missing his mark.
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