NEW YORK (AP) — Brewers pitcher Nestor Cortes had a return to Yankee Stadium to forget on Saturday.
A day later, Cortes reflected on allowing five of the Yankees’ team-record nine homers and lasting two-plus innings in a 20-9 loss.
“It’s not a good feeling,” Cortes said. “So obviously didn’t go the way I planned.”
Cortes left the ballpark after the game without speaking to reporters in what the Brewers said was a miscommunication. He was at his locker about two hours before Sunday’s series finale.
Cortes gave up homers on his first three pitches to Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge. He also allowed homers to Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe and was pulled after throwing 64 pitches.
The Brewers acquired Cortes on Dec. 13 from the Yankees for former closer Devin Williams, who is eligible for free agency. The left-hander, who became a fan favorite for his unique leg kicks, sported platinum blond hair and got a nice reception from the crowd in baseline introductions on Thursday.
After the Yankees batted in the second inning Sunday, Cortes was shown on the centerfield scoreboard and got a nice hand from the crowd as he tipped his cap.
“Obviously I spent a few years over there, and I was able to be on their side and not have to face them, but I think this comes with the territory of being a major league pitcher,” Cortes said. “You never know where you’re going to end up and at some point, you’re going to face somebody you know or somebody that’s close to you and it just happened to be yesterday.”
A former 36th-round pick of the Yankees in 2013, Cortes went 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA in 86 starts and 49 relief appearances over seven seasons. He is eligible for arbitration and also can become a free agent after next season.
An All-Star in 2022, Cortes was 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 31 appearances and 30 starts. He missed the final month of the regular season with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow, missed the AL Division Series and League Championship Series and allowed Freddie Freeman’s game-ending grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles.
After allowing the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history, Cortes stood at his locker stall for several minutes answering numerous questions.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers' Nestor Cortes gathers himself on the mound during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who won for the fourth time in five games and 12th in 15 games. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 16 points.
Jose Alvarado had 17 points and 10 assists for the Pelicans, who are 3-7 in their last 10. Bruce Bowen added 16 points and Yves Missi grabbed 12 rebounds.
Los Angeles led 59-47 at halftime, paced by Leonard's 18 points.
The Clippers outscored the Pelicans by four points over the final two quarters, with Bogdanovic scoring a team-high 12 second-half points.
Pelicans: New Orleans shut down forward Zion Williamson (back) and guard CJ McCollum (right foot) for the season on Monday and the Pelicans continue to struggle down the stretch.
Clippers: Los Angeles stayed hot at home coming off a 3-1 road trip during which the Clippers' only loss came to Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland.
The Clippers took the lead at 12-10 on a layup by Harden with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed again.
The Clippers outscored the Pelicans by 27 points on 3-pointers, making 13 compared to just four for the Pelicans. New Orleans shot 4 for 22 from 3-point range.
Pelicans: Stay in Southern California to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Clippers: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) drives the ball while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center, drives the ball while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans center Mo Bamba, right, and New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) drives the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
New Orleans Pelicans center Mo Bamba (4) controls the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guards James Harden, left, and Bogdan Bogdanovic try to gain possession of the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Jamal Cain during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic (17) goes up for a rebound over Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) looks to pass while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Kelly Olynyk, right, and New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) shoots while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Bruce Brown, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
