Nestor Cortes struggles continue in soggy Yankees loss to Angel

As hot as the Yankees were coming into their series against the Angels, it was more than just rain showers that cooled them off. Nothing can halt momentum quite like poor pitching. The Yankees got more of that Thursday as Nestor Cortes turned in his latest rough start in a 9-4 lo s to the Angels on a miserable, wet night in The Bronx. Nestor Cortes #65 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a home run during the first inning when the New York Yankees played the Los Angeles Angels. Robert Sabo for NY Post After Will Warren got rocked for an 8-2 lo s in the nightcap of Wednesdays doubleheader, Cortes did not make it out of a six-run fifth inning Thursday as the Yankees (68-48) dropped the series after winning three straight. They battled me the whole night, Cortes said. Conditions were tough. But its no excuse. We both battled through that. Both teams had that adversity, and they were the better team today. Explore More To make matters worse, Anthony Volpe after fouling a ball off it in the second inning. Nestor Cortes of the New York Yankees reacts in the dugout after he is pulled from the game. Robert Sabo for NY Post X-rays were negative, and Boone was hopeful that the shortstop would be fine. The Angels (51-64) beat up Cortes for six runs on nine hits and a walk acro s 4 / innings. The left-hander had looked better his last time out, when he to sed 5 / innings of three-run ball against the Phillies last Wednesday, but he took a step back against the Angels. Cortes now owns a 9.26 ERA over his last five starts, giving up 24 runs acro s 23 / innings while not making it through five innings in four of those games. Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Getty Images I feel like physically the balls coming out [good], and the stuffs there, manager Aaron Boone said. Just comes down to that next level of execution and then like tonight, when you get in those two-strike situations, putting guys away. Cortes has some company in a rotation that has largely struggled over the last two months, but Boone expre sed confidence Thursday that the Yankees have everything we need. Nick Martinez Jersey While the conditions a steady mist with sporadic heavier showers did Cortes no favors, they didnt seem to bother Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson, who kept the Yankees in check acro s six strong innings in which he gave up just one run (a Jazz Chisholm Jr. home run) and three hits. Nestor Cortes #65 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the first inning when the New York Yankees played the Los Angeles Angels. Robert Sabo for NY Post Tough conditions [for] both teams, Boone said. Just not a great night for us. The only saving grace on the night for the Yankees was the Orioles also losing to the Blue Jays, keeping the two squads tied atop the AL East. Cortes entered the fifth inning trying to keep a 2-1 deficit intact. Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees hits a solo home run during the second inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post Around getting the first two outs, he had a 10-pitch battle with No. 9 hitter Michael Stefanic that resulted in a single. But Zach Neto, who had a field day in the doubleheader, followed with a double as the skies began to open up and the rain intensified. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Long Islands Logan OHoppe then walked to load the bases before Kevin Pillar reached out for an 0-2 sinker in the other batters box and blooped a two-run single into shallow right field to put the Angels up 4-1, ending Cortes night. To their credit, they fouled off a lot of good pitches that I threw tonight, Cortes said. I felt like today was a pretty good command day for me. There might have been one or two pitches where I wished to get back, but other than that, thought I made a lot of good pitches. Yankees DJ LeMahieu, left, is called out at first base during the second inning. AP Enyel De Los Santos entered and walked Anthony Rendon to reload the bases, which got cleared when Jo Adell hit a sinking liner to right field that went just under the glove of a diving Juan Soto. The ball trickled past Soto and allowed all three runs to score for the 7-1 lead. Tonight wasnt our night, Boone said. I actually thought Nestor threw the ball OK, wasnt giving up a ton of hard contact. Had a hard time putting guys away tonight. They were spoiling pitches. Hed get to two strikes, couldnt finish guys off. Christian Encarnacion-strand Jersey