Rafael Devers owns a whole lot of real estate in Gerrit Cole’s head.
Aug 16, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) stands in the dugout during the first inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesUnfortunately for the Yankees, Cole’s career-long struggles against Boston continued. He entered Saturday’s action with a 4.84 ERA in 18 starts against Boston, and that only shot up after he allowed seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work.
To the shock of absolutely nobody, Rafael Devers was right in the middle of it. What is surprising, though, is that he was not involved in the way anyone would expect.
It appeared as if Cole, a pitcher who called Devers the Latin hitter who had given him the most trouble just days ago, wanted no part of the star third baseman. His first two at-bats showed just that, and let’s just say Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not a fan of how Cole dealt with him.
Alex Cora doesn’t shy away from calling out Gerrit Cole for cowardly approach to Rafael Devers
Cole began the start by getting Jaren Duran to pop out, but then he hit Devers, the next man up with a pitch. That ticked Cora off.
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
Cora called the hit-by-pitch intentional after the game. While there very well might have been intent, there’s also reason to suggest there wasn’t at that moment. Cole hit Devers with a 91.2 mph cutter. If he really wanted to hit Devers, chances are, he would’ve hit him with a harder four-seam fastball, and not after he threw a first-pitch strike to him.
Gerrit Cole plunks Rafael Devers in the first inning pic.twitter.com/hOWMV2xwrH
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 14, 2024
Cole wanting no part of Devers looked as justified as ever, though in his second at-bat of the day. Despite retiring all nine batters he had faced after Devers, Cole opted to intentionally walk his nemesis with one out and nobody on in the fourth inning.
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
It was the ultimate sign of respect, sure, but it was also a bizarre decision. Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, shouldn’t be intentionally walking anybody really, especially in the fourth inning with the bases empty. The worst thing Devers could’ve done was hit a solo home run to tie the game at one. Instead, Cole’s decision kickstarted a game-ending rally.
The Red Sox scored three runs immediately after the walk, and tacked on four more in the fifth thanks, of course, to Devers, who knocked a two-run single.
No intentional walk for Raffy this time 😉 pic.twitter.com/W6zE9sBP9S
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2024
There’s no way around this. Cole’s decision to intentionally walk Devers was cowardly. As for the hit-by-pitch that Cora is upset about, that’s tougher to say. Again, it wasn’t a fastball, it was a cutter. Cole, knowing Devers’ history against him, was almost certainly just trying to jam him inside and missed his spot.
With one more game scheduled between these two bitter rivals, it’ll be interesting to see what transpires.
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