Cole says that the intentional walk gave the momentum to the Red Sox.
from espn.com:
"They grabbed the momentum. It inspired them," Cole said. "I think, looking back, it's the wrong move."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he and Cole discussed in the leadup to the game being more aggressive in the use of intentional walks -- Cole hadn't issued one in seven years. Cole said he talked out the possibility with pitching coach Matt Blake while in the tunnel before the fourth inning, viewing it as a way to get the starter deeper into the game on a day when the Yankees' bullpen was thin.
Yankees catcher Austin Wells wasn't made aware of the plan.
"I was a bit caught off guard," he said. "Thought he had some good momentum."
Wells said he didn't think about trying to get Cole to reverse his decision.
"We're just kidding. We don't actually walk him," Wells proposed. "I don't know if that's a thing."
Cole and Boone both took an unusually long time before speaking with reporters after the game.
"Just a rough day," Cole said.
Cole (6-5) gave up seven runs, his most since June 9, 2022. He hit a career-high three batters and left after 4⅓ innings.
Saturday marked the first time a Yankees pitcher intentionally walked a batter with the bases empty and less than two outs since intentional walks became official in 1955, according to ESPN Research.
"He caught me by surprise," Devers said through an interpreter. "I didn't expect that from a future Hall of Famer and I feel like he panicked a little bit."
Cole retired nine of his first 10 batters, allowing his only batter to reach when he hit Devers with a cutter in the first.
"I felt like the first at-bat he hit him on purpose," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He doesn't want to face him. That's the bottom line. He told us with the intentional walk that the first at-bat he hit him."
Full story:
'Wrong move': Cole's IBB of Devers sparks Boston
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