Rafael Devers "never expected" to be intentionally walked by Gerrit Cole with the bases empty in the fourth inning Saturday in the Bronx.
As it turns out, even the Yankees ace's battery mate was caught off guard by the decision.
Cole explained New York had a "plan" to give the Red Sox star a free pass, which ignited a big frame from the visitors at Yankee Stadium. But those pregame conversations apparently did not involve catcher Austin Wells.
"I was not in that conversation," Wells told reporters after New York's 7-1 loss, per MLB.com. "I didn't know that was in the plans."
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Aaron Boone confirmed he spoke with Cole before the game about potentially intentionally walking Devers, but the Yankees manager admitted his club should've changed course after taking a lead in the third inning. The star right-hander also owned up to making "a mistake," noting it was the "wrong move" in that situation.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner caught flak from the opposing dugout for avoiding Devers, too, with Brayan Bello calling out Cole for showing "a lot of weakness." The situation might set the stage for a theatrical series finale, which NESN will have coverage for beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
