Cole's Intentional Walk Criticized in Yankees' Loss

Gerrit Cole's decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers in the fourth inning with no runners on base during the Yankees' 7-1 loss to the Red Sox has been widely criticized. Cole's move, which followed hitting Devers with a pitch in the first inning, led to a three-run inning for Boston and sparked controversy. Red Sox manager Alex Cora accused Cole of intentionally hitting Devers, suggesting that the walk indicated Cole's reluctance to face him. Despite differing accounts from Cole and Yankees manager Aaron Boone, the strategy backfired, resulting in a rough outing for Cole and ending the Yankees' brief winning streak. Devers' strong performance against Cole continued, further highlighting the unusual nature of the intentional walk.