In a disappointing turn of events, Nestor Cortes struggled on the mound as the New York Yankees faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays, resulting in a 9-1 defeat. Cortes, who had previously held the lowest ERA at home in the league, was unable to maintain his dominant form and was charged with six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in just 4.1 innings of work.

Reflecting on his performance, Cortes acknowledged that he did not have his best stuff on the day, stating, "It's tough to pitch in the big leagues when you don't have your best stuff." He explained that he initially felt confident in his pitching, but later lost control of his fastball and found himself consistently behind the count.

Manager Aaron Boone also weighed in on Cortes' outing, noting that while the profile of his pitches seemed promising, he struggled to finish off batters and experienced difficulty putting them away. This ultimately led to costly runs for the Yankees.

Cortes faced challenges against the all-right-handed hitting lineup, frequently falling into deep counts and throwing pitches outside the strike zone. A couple of walks proved detrimental, particularly a 3-2 cutter that resulted in a home run by the Rays' No. 9 hitter, Alex Jackson.

The Rays' hitters were particularly successful against Cortes' sweeper pitch, launching two additional home runs in the fifth inning and an RBI double in the third. Cortes admitted that the Rays understood his strengths as a pitcher, emphasizing the importance of pitching command and accurate ball placement.

Despite Cortes' struggles, the Yankees' offensive performance also contributed to the loss. The team faced a formidable opponent in Tampa Bay's Taj Bradley, whose "really good stuff" kept their bats at bay, according to Boone. The lack of consistency in offensive production, apart from standout performances by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, remains a concern for the Yankees.

Boone expressed the team's determination to work with their current roster and make the most of the available talent. There were positive developments, with players like Gleyber Torres showing signs of improvement in recent games. However, the slump of Alex Verdugo, with just 16 hits in his last 108 at-bats and a meager.148 batting average since June 15, remains a cause for concern.

The Yankees' loss to the Rays marks their 19th defeat in the last 30 games, highlighting the need to turn their fortunes around. As the trade deadline approaches on July 30, Boone acknowledged that the team must make the best of their current lineup and strive for improved performance from all players.

Cortes concluded on a positive note, acknowledging the team's struggles but expressing confidence that they are on the cusp of greatness. The Yankees remain determined to regroup and make a comeback as they strive to climb up the standings in their division.