MLB News

Yankees takeaways from Saturday’s 5-2 spring training loss at Blue Jays, including Nestor Cortes’ rough first start

Mar 18, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (65) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 18, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (65) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / © Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees‘ 5-2 spring training loss at the Toronto Blue Jays featured a rusty 2023 debut by Nestor Cortes as the lefty returned from a hamstring injury.

Five things to know from Saturday’s game

1. Cortes struggled, allowing five runs (all earned) on three hits (two home runs) in 3 1/3 innings. He recorded four strikeouts, his three walks added up. Cortes threw 35 strikes on 52 pitches and squandered a 2-0 lead that New York built in the first inning.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a hanging two-out, 0-1 off-speed pitch over the left-field wall that cut into the Yankees’ early advantage, 2-1. The second inning was more of the same as Cortes — again, with two outs — surrendered a two-run shot to Whit Merrifield that put Toronto up 3-2.

2. How the Yankees got on the board, though, was a positive development as top prospect Anthony Volpe — leading off — continues to have an impressive spring, getting on base by working a walk. Next, Aaron Judge just missed a two-run homer on a deep double to left-center field that gave the Yankees runners at second and third before Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton got the job done in the next to at-bats.

Rizzo’s soft groundball up the middle went for a 6-3 putout, but not before Volpe scored. Stanton’s groundball up the middle found the hole and scored Judge, who advanced to third on the Rizzo groundout, and presented Cortes a 2-0 cushion.

3. Volpe stayed hot and kept doing his job as a leadoff batter in the third inning when he singled on a groundball to center, although, the Yankees did not advance him.

Judge’s 6-4 fielder’s choice put Volpe out at second, but the shortstop ended his day with a 1-for-3 line in the box. Volpe is slashing .297/.422/.568 with two home runs and three RBI in 13 games this spring.

4. Stanton also continued to shine with a leadoff double in the sixth inning as he cemented his 2-for-3 afternoon at the plate. Through nine games this spring, Stanton is slashing .280/.333/.360 with two doubles and three RBI.

5. Notably, after Cortes, right-handed relievers Michael King and Jonathan Loaisiga fired the following 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.

King entered for Cortes with one out and two…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games…