Rafael Devers SURPRISED by Gerrit Cole’s controversial intentional walk in Yankees’ 1-7 loss vs. Red Sox

Aaron Boone takes responsibility for Gerrit Cole’s intentional walk; calls it a miscommunication.

Rafael Devers SURPRISED by Gerrit Cole’s controversial intentional walk in Yankees’ 1-7 loss vs. Red Sox

Gerrit Cole and Rafael Devers [Image Credit: Imago/SI]

Pitcher Gerrit Cole’s intentional walk off Red Sox baseman Rafael Devers delivers a fatal blow as the New York Yankees lose 1-7 against Boston on Saturday. Cole’s decision to intentionally walk Devers seemed to have confused both him and the baseman, as well as catcher Austin Wells.

Devers noted that Cole might have been confused and in a hurried decision did so. The walk took place during the fourth inning with bases empty and one out, which later set up a three-run boost for the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. 

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Rafael Devers was seen looking quizzically towards the home plate umpire before throwing his bat to the side and moving onto the base. After all was said and done, Gerrit Cole said, 

FS Video
Clearly, that was a mistake. I think I bought into the plan going into it, but afterward, it was the wrong move.
Gerrit Cole on X.

Even Devers noted,

He caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect that from a future Hall of Famer. I feel like he panicked a little bit.
Rafael Devers as per Bryan Hoch of MLB.

Cole said that the team plan included a possible Devers walk if needed. However, an intentional walk often goes as per the situation on the field. Unfortunately, Cole’s decision on Saturday was the wrong one.

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Aaron Boone takes responsibility for Gerrit Cole’s decision

NY Yankees manager Aaron Boone took responsibility for Gerrit Cole’s action saying he would have rather preferred the pitcher to face Rafael Devers than walk him. However, when Cole made the decision he did not want to interfere with it.

Aaron Boone and Gerrit Cole
Aaron Boone and Gerrit Cole [Image Credit: Imago]

Boone noted that at the end of the day, there were many opportunities to make good pitches but it instead “burned us today”. They are now focused on the next game instead of dwelling on Saturday’s loss.

At the end of the day, I certainly pride myself on communicating at a really high level. [Saturday] we didn’t do it well enough, and that falls on me. So we’re going to learn from it. We’re going to grow from it. And hopefully make sure we can eliminate those gray areas.
Aaron Boone on X.

Even Austin Wells noted that he was “caught off guard” by Gerrit Cole’s decision. He said that he was not in that conversation and didn’t know of any such plans. Both the teams are moving on from this incident and looking forward to the rest of their remaining matches.

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