MLB

Aaron Boone takes blame for communication mess after Gerrit Cole’s bizarre intentional walk to Rafael Devers

Aaron Boone took responsibility for a failure of communication that led to the head-scratching intentional walk of Rafael Devers on Saturday.

Gerrit Cole issued the free pass to Devers with the bases empty and one out in the fourth inning — which inspired the Red Sox and prompted a spiral from Cole — and said he was following the team’s plan.

According to Cole, the team had come up with a strategy that was reinforced during a tunnel talk with pitching coach Matt Blake in the previous half-inning.

Boone, meanwhile, said he would have preferred for Cole to pitch to Devers.

Gerrit Cole reacts during the Yankees’ game against the Red Sox on Sept. 14, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The pitcher believing one thing and the manager believing another was an issue for which Boone pointed at himself.

“At the end of the day, I certainly pride myself on communicating at a really high level,” Boone said before the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 5-2, in The Bronx on Sunday. “[Saturday] we didn’t do it well enough, and that falls on me. So we’re going to learn from it. We’re going to grow from it. And hopefully make sure we can eliminate those gray areas.”

Catcher Austin Wells said he was caught “off-guard” by the intentional walk and was not part of any meetings that discussed the strategy.

Boone said what sounds like a strange dynamic is not strange.

“Austin’s game-planning is involved on how we’re attacking, how we’re getting outs, what pitches he’s calling,” Boone said. “So those [intentional walks] are a lot of times in-the-moment decisions that happen from the dugout.”

Boone said he did not want to “litigate” all the choices made 24 hours earlier.

Rafael Devers of the Red Sox reacts during a game against the Yankees on Sept. 14, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post

His counterpart, Red Sox manager Alex Cora, would love it if his own group continues to think about Saturday’s events.

Boston was angry not just at Cole’s refusal to pitch to Devers in the fourth inning, but Cole hitting Devers with a cutter in the first inning.

Cora said he believed the pitch had intent, a sign that the Yankees ace did not want to pitch to a slugger who has had his number.

The Red Sox scored seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings Saturday, rallying against a pitcher with whom they had grown aggrieved.

Cora hoped his group, which is 4.5 games back of the third AL wild card, carries that anger with them.

“If this [playoff run] happens, we’re going to look back at [Saturday], and we’re probably going to thank Gerrit Cole for getting us going,” said Cora, who acknowledged they have a long way to go. “Hopefully it happens, and hopefully we can face [Cole] in the playoffs because he will have to pitch.”

Aaron Boone watches from the dugout during the Yankees’ game against the Red Sox on Sept. 14, 2024. AP

Marcus Stroman, who at least for a turn has fallen out of the rotation, was available out of the bullpen but did not enter the game.

Boone said he could have turned to Stroman for an appearance that required length.

Oswaldo Cabrera received his third start of the year at first base, where he has become the backup to Anthony Rizzo.

Cabrera went 2-for-4, has hit safely in 16 of his past 18 starts and handled every opportunity thrown at him defensively.

“I love Oswaldo with a glove on,” Boone said.


After three straight starts from Wells, Jose Trevino got the nod at catcher.

“Obviously [Wells is] right in the center of a lot of things we’re doing, but obviously I feel good anytime Trevy’s in there too, and what he brings to the table,” Boone said before Trevino went 0-for-4.

Wells, who has become the cleanup hitter, is “a little beat up,” Boone said, which is normal in the middle of September.


On Roberto Clemente Day, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Trevino, Rizzo and Stroman wore No. 21 for the game.

Stroman was presented with his 2024 Roberto Clemente Nominee Award.

Carlos Rodon pitched well for 5 ¹/₃ innings before five different Yankees relievers pieced together the rest of the game.


JT Brubaker, whose rehab assignment following Tommy John surgery had been halted by an oblique injury, threw a clean inning with one strikeout in restarting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“It’s good because we thought we may lose him for the year,” Boone said. “We’ll see how it goes.”