Nestor Cortes wasn’t able to finish off a no-hitter on Monday afternoon, but he was still able to make history in his latest dominant outing.
After tossing 7.1 shutout innings and allowing just one hit, Cortes became the first pitcher in Yankee history to log at least 40 strikeouts and allow six runs or fewer over his first six starts, according to Katie Sharp of Stathead. Cortes, who struck out 11 on Monday, has fanned 42 batters in 32 innings of work this season, and has allowed five earned runs (six runs overall), and holds an ERA of 1.41.
Cortes came close to logging the first Yankee no-hitter since Corey Kluber last season, but allowed a soft single to center to Eli White, before being taken out by Aaron Boone, and departed to a loud ovation from the small weekday afternoon crowd in the Bronx.
If Cortes continues to pitch at this level, he will likely be pitching in front of a packed crowd in Los Angeles this summer at the All-Star Game.
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