CHICAGO — When Nestor Cortes was in highschool, his father used to complain when he wandered off the mound while he was pitching.
“He was sick of me getting drained going into the sixth, so he said stop walking a lot and perhaps you’ll get there,” Cortes said.
Cortes got there, all right. And kept going, all of the method to one in all baseball’s biggest surprises to this point this yr.
Staying on the mound and dealing quickly — similar to his dad would have wanted — Cortes pitched a career-high eight innings to guide the Yankees to a 5-1 victory over Michael Kopech and the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
“That was one other special outing,” Manager Aaron Boone said. “I mean, just in complete control.”
The Yankees managed just two hits: a second-inning single for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and a two-run homer by Joey Gallo within the ninth. However it was good enough, due to the crafty Cortes (2-1).
Cortes, 27, carried a no-hitter into the eighth in his previous outing against Texas, and on Sunday he allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none in one other sensible performance. He has permitted two runs or fewer in each of his seven starts this yr.
Since his first big league outing of last season, on May 30, 2021, Cortes has an A.L.-low 2.44 E.R.A. over 133 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 16 straight starts, matching Luis Severino in 2018 for the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
“So long as I can go on the market and compete and provides my team a probability, I’m completely happy and comfy,” Cortes said.
Asked if he sees himself as one in all the majors’ best pitchers, Cortes demurred.
“Not likely. There’s numerous good pitchers on the market,” he said. “I just attempt to do my part.”
Clay Holmes finished the four-hitter for the Yankees’ 18th win in 21 games.
