LOS ANGELES — Pitching in the bottom of the 10th inning on over a month’s rest in a World Series game is apparently not a recipe for success.
Nestor Cortes returned from his elbow injury in time for the World Series before it was completely healed, saying he would risk missing next season with a worsened the injury if it meant he’d have a ring.
The plan got off to a brutal start in Friday’s 6-3, 10-inning loss in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, as Cortes missed with a pitch to Freddie Freeman, whose grand slam gave the Dodgers the victory.
“I knew this runway was for me,’’ Cortes said of the top of the Los Angeles lineup, with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freeman due up. “I didn’t get it done, but I’ll come back.”
Aaron Boone defended his decision to go with Cortes — who has pitched in relief before, but spends most of his time as a starter — to face Ohtani with one out in the 10th.
Cortes spends most of his time as a starter, opposed to Tim Hill, another southpaw who has pitched well as a Yankee and become an important part of the bullpen during these playoffs.
“I knew with one out there, it would be tough to double up Shohei if Tim Hill gets him on the ground and then Mookie behind him is a tough matchup there,’’ Boone said. “So I felt convicted with Nestor in that spot.”
“Once I got in, I had all the confidence in the world,’’ said Cortes, who didn’t know he was coming in until his name was called.
Cortes started well, getting Ohtani to pop out to left, helped by a terrific diving catch by Alex Verdugo.
Boone decided to walk Betts intentionally to go left-on-left again with Freeman coming up.
“The pitch to Freeman, I wish I would have thrown it higher,’’ Cortes said. “He put a good swing on it.”
After it was over, Cortes said he “felt a little bit of everything.”
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With Cortes in an unfamiliar role and coming back from the elbow injury, even he doesn’t know how often he’ll be able to pitch this series.
But he’s optimistic he’ll be able to redeem himself.
“It wasn’t a perfect pitch, but it was a good enough pitch,’’ Cortes said. “I just didn’t get it done. My elbow feels good right now and we’ll see how it reacts [Saturday]. I’ve got plenty more pitches to throw.”
