The way the Yankees’ bats are going, Nestor Cortes couldn’t afford his one bad inning.
The way Nestor Cortes is going, though, hints that there should be less-frustrating nights ahead of him this season.
Cortes again was strong — continuing a trend of excellent work from a Yankees’ rotation even without Gerrit Cole — in a 3-1 loss to the A’s in The Bronx on Thursday.
For a second straight outing and third in his past four, Cortes lasted at least seven innings.
He was efficient, walked none, allowed five hits and three runs, all of which came on two swings in the third inning.
First Oakland’s Nick Allen smacked a home run — “I thought we threw too many fastballs to Allen there,” Cortes said — before Tyler Nevin blasted a two-run shot, Cortes again bemoaning his choice of a fastball.
Otherwise, though, the lefty sailed and said he came away again feeling healthy. Cortes — who is coming off a poor, injury-filled season — had to be shut down in December because his shoulder was not recovering well during offseason workouts.
Six starts into his season, he is sporting a 3.50 ERA and a shoulder that is recovering.
“I feel like I”m healthy,” said Cortes, who also was pleased with his command. “I feel like I’m recuperating real well. So it’s now keeping up with the program, staying with the program and follow it as best as I can to keep on going out there every five days.”
Without Cole, Yankees starters have posted a 3.06 ERA, which ranked fourth in baseball upon the conclusion of Thursday’s game. Yankees starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 23 of their 26 starts this year.
“Certainly like where they’re at,” manager Aaron Boone said of his rotation. “And certainly like how they’re throwing the ball and giving us a chance every night.”
Following the loss, the Yankees optioned righty Cody Morris to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which could be opening a roster spot for new pickup Michael Tonkin.
Clay Holmes’ nine saves are tied for the most in baseball.
The closer owns a 0.00 ERA in 12 innings in which Holmes — who has had bouts of wildness in the past — has totaled one walk.
The understated reliever who came over in the 2021 trade with the Pirates, had been about as consistent as his manager had ever seen him.
“I feel like we have a more polished, complete pitcher than even one that we’ve had and seen dominate at different times over the last few years,” Boone said. “Feel like he’s just got a better handle of his delivery and his arsenal. When something’s not exactly right, being able to correct on the fly better.”
If Holmes is authoring his best season, it would come at a good time for the soon-to-be free agent.
The 31-year-old remains as difficult to lift balls against as any pitcher in baseball — entering play with a 67.6 percent ground-ball rate — a skill that is particularly helpful at a Yankee Stadium with a short porch in right.
Holmes has shown no signs of worrying about his pending free agency, which is on-brand for a righty who, even when his stuff has failed him, has remained a level-headed clubhouse presence.
“He’s such a good pro,” Boone said. “He deals with all that comes your way in a big league season, especially being a closer, back-end reliever, where you’re going to have bumps. When he’s hit bumps in the road along the way, he’s always handled those really well.
“I feel like he’s a really good worker. Obviously since we’ve had him, he’s been really, really good for the last few years. But he’s never really satisfied. He’s always working to get a little bit better all the time at his craft.”
The Yankees claimed Tonkin, who has become the most well-traveled pitcher in baseball this season, earlier in the day.
The 34-year-old righty cracked the Mets’ Opening Day roster but pitched in just three games before he was designated for assignment.
The Twins picked him up and watched him pitch one game before DFA’ing him.
The Mets again claimed him, and he pitched Saturday and Sunday for them before yet another DFA.
The Yankees now have added Tonkin, who was solid last season for the Braves, with whom he pitched to a 4.28 ERA as a long man out of the bullpen.
“Certainly a guy that can give you some length, guy that had success this year and last year was a really good pitcher,” Boone said of Tonkin. “Chance to get a good pitcher that [we] feel like could help us.”
The Yankees designated Triple-A righty McKinley Moore for assignment in order to add Tonkin to the 40-man roster.
Infielder Jon Berti, who has been out since April 10 with a left groin strain, could begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Boone said.
Berti took batting practice and fielded ground balls before Thursday’s game, and Boone said he would need to get through “a couple of heavy days” before being cleared for the assignment.
Whenever Berti is ready, the Yankees — who do not have a backup first baseman or backup shortstop because Oswaldo Cabrera has become the everyday third baseman without DJ LeMahieu — would gladly welcome back the flexible infielder.
