Nestor Cortes praises Yankees fans as home dominance continues: ‘Extra edge’
NY Post
There are two versions of Nestor Cortes: the shaky one on the road and the brilliant one at home.
On the road, Cortes allows more hits (26) than innings pitched (20) along with a through-the-roof 6.75 ERA.
At home, he has pitched into the seventh inning in all four outings, and has given up just 16 hits — four for extra bases — and five earned runs over 28 ¹/₃ mostly dominant frames.
“I love pitching in front of the Yankees fans,” the unorthodox and crafty southpaw said after the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers, 5-2, in a rain-shortened, eight-inning game in The Bronx.
“As far as I can remember in 2021, I love pitching here. When we have two strikes or there’s two outs, everybody gets involved — the fans, the guys upstairs with the noise — it just gives you that extra edge and that’s why I feel like it’s been working for me.”
Cortes was particularly effective on Sunday, limiting the Tigers to two base runners over the first six innings and striking out nine overall.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers have experienced it from all sides the past three springs. They have overcome a 3-1 series deficit by winning an overtime Game 7 at home. They have overcome a 3-2 deficit to win a Game 7 on the road. They have lost a 2-0 series lead in dropping four straight. They have lost another 2-0 lead before losing in seven. And they have swept.