Nestor Cortes had a very up-and-down 2024 season, but more importantly, he hadn’t pitched since September 18 heading into Game 1. That’s over a month off between appearances, and while Cortes can be good when he’s on, bringing him in extra innings to face the top of the Dodgers’ lineup was a strange call by Boone.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained why he went with Nestor Cortes in a crucial moment against the Los Angeles Dodgers before Freddie Freeman's fateful grand slam.

Cortes prevailed against Ohtani. He threw a 92-mph fastball up and in the strike zone that Ohtani hit high in the air and foul to the left side. Alex Verdugo raced over and made a spectacular catch, crossing into foul territory and then tumbling over a wall.