Rafael Devers continues to be a thorn in Gerrit Cole’s side.
The New York Yankees star has struggled to get the Boston Red Sox third baseman out over the last four seasons. Heading into Saturday’s game, Devers boasted a .333 average with a .974 OPS and nine home runs against the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.
Cole faced Devers twice in their latest showdown. In their first encounter, a cutter got away from Cole and hit Devers. The next time around, Cole decided to intentionally walk Devers with no one on base, not wanting to risk a lead. However, Devers still managed to score on a subsequent play.
When Cole faced Devers for the third time, the bases were loaded, and he had no choice but to pitch to him. Despite throwing what seemed like a good pitch, Devers hit a two-run single, extending his dominance over Cole.
Devers now boasts a .350 batting average against Cole with 19 RBIs. While Cole can take solace in not giving up a 10th home run to Devers, it’s clear that the Red Sox slugger has his number.
During Hispanic Heritage Media Day, Cole was asked which Latin hitter he struggled against the most, to which he promptly replied, “Rafael Devers.” This candid admission highlights just how challenging Devers has been for Cole.
It’s a humorous yet telling sign of Devers’ prowess that Cole intentionally walked him in a key moment of their latest matchup. The battle between Cole and Devers continues to be one to watch.