It was a day to forget for Nestor Cortes Jr. as he and the Milwaukee Brewers flopped for the second time against the New York Yankees this opening week.
Much of the talk was on Cortes’ performance as the starting pitcher. The 30-year-old left-handed pitcher, who played his last three seasons with the Yankees, allowed three home runs in his first three throws.
The first one was against lead-off batter Paul Goldschmidt. Cody Bellinger went at the bat next and he earned the same result. Superstar Aaron Judge came next and nothing changed.
He finished the game having allowed five home runs.
The fact that the games was being played at the Yankee Stadium made things worse for Cortes who was acquired by the Brewers via a trade for All-Star closer Devin Williams who unlike Cortes had a great debut with his new team.
Nestor Cortes exits the game and Yankee fans give him a standing ovation … why am I feeling so bad for him UGH
— Niki Lattarulo (@NikiLattarulo) March 29, 2025
Pat Murphy reacts to Nestor Cortes Jr.’ performance
Manager Pat Murphy was hoping for a more aggressive response following the 2-4 loss they received from the Yankees on the opening day.
That did not happen. In fact, they suffered a worse loss (9-20), something the manager called an ‘old fashioned a**-weeping.’
As for Cortes’ performance, he described it as something he hasn’t seen before.
“You think you’ve seen it all, and you haven’t,” he said as quoted by MLB.com’s Adam McCulvy.
at the Hilton Anatole during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“Because we saw it today: Three pitches, three homers. It’s like, really? Usually you wake up from that, you know what I mean? You go, ‘Ah, that can’t ever happen.’”
He also did not mince words in describe his starting pitcher’s performance.
“He just didn’t throw the ball good. He didn’t execute. And he would be the first to tell you. The ball wasn’t cutting. He didn’t throw it where he wanted to on the side of the plate he wanted to.”
The Brewers and Yankees will play the last of their three-game series on Sunday, still at the Yankees’ home field.
For more great Wisconsin sports content
Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for the latest and trending news about Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Marquette, and the rest of Wisconsin Sports. Stay updated by reading more of our Wisconsin Sports articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
