New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has had a tough time facing Boston Red Sox All-Star Rafael Devers, and the numbers back this up. However, in a recent matchup, Cole surprised everyone by intentionally walking Devers, a move that ultimately backfired as the Red Sox went on to crush Cole and knock him out of the game. Boston’s starter, Brayan Bello, called the move a sign of weakness, while Devers himself was surprised and felt that Cole had panicked. Red Sox manager Alex Cora even believes that Cole hit Devers in his first at-bat on purpose.
At the time of the intentional walk, the Yankees held a 1-0 lead, but the top of the fourth inning saw Cole struggle. After Devers was walked intentionally, the Red Sox offense came alive and scored multiple runs, leading to Cole’s eventual removal from the game. Cole hit a career-high three batters in the outing and allowed the most runs in a game since June 2022. Devers got some revenge against Cole by knocking in two runners with a hit in the top of the fifth inning, contributing to the Yankees’ lack of confidence and control in their ace’s performance.
Following the game, Cole admitted that the intentional walk to Devers was the wrong move and may have given the Red Sox momentum. Both he and Yankees manager Aaron Boone had previously discussed the possibility of using intentional walks, but the decision ultimately seemed to catch the team off guard. The Red Sox, who were fighting to stay in the postseason race, needed the win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The victory moved them to within 3.5 games of the final American League wild-card slot, currently held by the Minnesota Twins.
As the Yankees compete for the AL East title with the Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox are hoping to secure one of the three American League wild-card spots. They remain 3.5 games back of the final slot, with teams like the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners also in contention ahead of them in the standings. With momentum on their side following a convincing win over the Yankees, the Red Sox are looking to close the gap and make a push for the playoffs. The matchup between Cole and Devers added an extra layer of drama to the rivalry between these two historic teams, setting the stage for more excitement in their future meetings.
