Rafael Devers earned an opportunity to admire his work Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Not long after Alex Verdugo crushed a game-tying home run and stuck it to the Red Sox, Devers put one in the seats and added some flair of his own. Boston’s star third baseman stood at the plate for a few moments to watch his round-tripper travel 441 feet before flipping his bat toward the visitors’ dugout and rounding the bases.
Gerrit Cole was hot — figuratively and literally — after Devers’ bomb, as New York’s starter stared down the two-time All-Star while he jogged toward first base. But by the time the game was over, Cole cooled off and knew he didn’t have much of a right to be ticked off at Devers.
“As a pitcher, if you don’t want him to watch a home run (and) trot, then you probably shouldn’t give up a home run,” Cole told reporters, per the New York Daily News’ Gary Phillips.
Of course, the result made it much easier for Cole to provide a mild-mannered response. The right-hander didn’t pick up his second win of the season, but the Bronx Bombers throttled their fierce rival to the tune of a 14-4 decision.
The American League East foes now will turn the page to the finale of the three-game set Sunday when a series win will be on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
