Nestor Cortes pitched five immaculate innings where he handcuffed the bats of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cuban born Hialeah raised hurler only allowed seven hits and didn’t allow a run, all this while fanning three to guide the team from Gotham to an 8-1 win over the Fightin’ Phils.
With all the injuries that have plagued the Yankees rotation Cortes and Gerrit Cole figure to be key starters for the Bronx Bombers until the other injured pitchers return to action.
Luis Robert continues to show a lot of power to start the season. In last night’s contest the Cuban outfielder went yard in four at bats all while driving in a run and scoring on another occasion. Although “The Panther” deposited a ball in the seats the WhiteSox were still drubbed by San Francisco 12-3. The slugger is now hitting only .261 is slugging a robust .565 in the early season. Yasmani Grandal went hitless on the evening in three at bats, but did manage to drive in a run for the ChiSox.
Nestor Cortes. Athlete. pic.twitter.com/vKw7CjjVK6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 4, 2023
Yordan Álvarez drove in four runs via a three run bomb, the 100th of his career and a ground to third, but all his efforts couldn’t prevent the Astros from dropping their second game in a row to the Detroit Tigers 7-6 in eleven innings. The feared slugger from Las Tunas, Cuba has now driven in a whopping nine runs in five games this season.
José Abreu also helped the cause with a two hits in five visits to the plate and a run scoring double in the bottom of the ninth for the Space City team. The slugger watched his average jump to .381 in the young campaign.
Go 4 launch. pic.twitter.com/oVV9fEzLIS
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 4, 2023
Below is all the other Cuban action on the night:
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI) 4-1
Adolis García (TEX) 4-0
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) 6-1,HR,4RBI,R
José Abreu (HOU) 5-2,2B,RBI
Nolan Arenado (STL) 5-2,RBI*
Tristón Casas (BOS) 5-1,HR,2RBI,R*
Johan Oviedo (PIT) 4.2IP,6H,4ER,4BB,4K’s
Nick Castellanos (PHI) 4-0
Nestor Cortes (NYY) 5.0IP,7H,ER,3K’s
Randy Arozarena (TAM) 4-1,R
Eric Hosmer (CHI) 5-3,2B,RBI*
Luis Robert (CHW) 4-1,HR,RBI,R
Yoan Moncada (CHW) 3-1,2B
Yasmani Grandal (CHW) 3-0,RBI
Óscar Colas (CHW) 3-0
Jorge Soler (MIA) 4-1,2B
Yuli Gurriel (MIA) 1-1
Miguel Vargas (LAD) 3-1,RBI,R
Aledmys Díaz (OAK) 4-0,R
*Cuban-American