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I see ya but I don’t believe ya.
Yankees announcer Michael Kay was among those bewildered by Gerrit Cole’s controversial decision to intentionally walk Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers during Saturday’s 7-1 loss.
“That’ll bring up Devers,” Kay began as Boston’s third baseman stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth inning. “And they intentionally walk him?! With nobody on and one out?”
“And they intentionally walk him?!” – Michael Kay on the YES Network Yankees call as Gerrit Cole intentionally walks Rafael Devers with the bases empty and one out. Devers would later score as part of a three-run fourth inning for Boston. ⚾️🎙️pic.twitter.com/nyImEuG4ts— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2024
Kay qualified his surprise by pointing out Cole’s comments from a few days prior when he quickly identified Devers as the Latin hitter who has tormented him the most during his career.
Entering Saturday’s contest, Devers was 14-for-41 (.316) with eight homers and 15 strikeouts against the Yankees ace, per ESPN.
The Yankees killer Devers had a another strong game in the Red Sox’s win, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks.
Kay was not the only announcer stunned by the call as Matt Vasgersian and Tom Verducci were also in disbelief on the MLB Network broadcast.
“He’s putting him on, he’s intentionally walking [him]” Verducci said. “It was Gerrit Cole who put up the four fingers. Gerrit Cole put up four fingers and pointed to first base. I want no part of you.”
Earlier in the game, Cole plunked Devers in the first inning, which elicited an angry reaction from Red Sox manager Alex Cora after the game, claiming the act was deliberate.
“They can say whatever they want. The intentional walk [made it] loud and clear: ‘I don’t want to face him,’” Cora said. “Second pitch of the game against Rafy, you see it. It was intentional. I’m not going to back up.”
The reigning AL Cy Young winner’s decision quickly backfired as Boston — after Cole had retired nine of the previous 10 hitters — put together a three-run fourth inning following the walk.
The Red Sox delivered the knockout punch in the fifth inning, capped off by a two-run single by Devers off Cole.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said after the loss that walking Devers at certain points had been discussed, but he did not support Cole’s decision in the fourth inning.
“Once we scored the run [in the third inning], my preference would have been: Let’s attack him,” Boone said. “Gerrit was a little indecisive out there and rolled with it.”
Cole’s final line on the day was 4 ¹/₃ innings, five hits, seven earned runs, three walks and just two strikeouts.
The Yankees will attempt to take three out of four against the Red Sox as the AL East rivals square off on Sunday afternoon at the Stadium.
