Video: Yankees' Boone Reveals Biggest Regret of Game 1 World Series Loss to Dodgers | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees speaks to the media during a press conference prior to Game One of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his only regret from Friday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series was not putting Luke Weaver on the mound in the 10th inning.

“Should I send Weave out with the lead for third down … in the 10th? That’s the one I can definitely make a case for in my head,” Boone told reporters Saturday when asked if he had made any decisions that he would take. like to take back in Game 1.

“A little bit worried about that third one with them, and where does that leave us, if that doesn’t go to plan… that’s one. But the other one, no, I would take it a step further.”

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Aaron Boone was asked if he made any decisions last night that he might want back: pic.twitter.com/7j8OONUAsp

Weaver closed out the eighth inning and retired three batters in a row in the ninth, but Boone turned to Jake Cousins and then Nestor Cortes for the tenth frame.

In his return after being sidelined for more than a month due to an elbow injury, Cortes’ second pitch was returned by the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman for a walk-off grand slam.

Weaver originally came into the game to face Mookie Betts with the tying run at third base and only one out on the board. After Betts scored Shohei Ohtani on a sacrifice fly, Freeman hit a flyout to end the inning.

In the ninth, Weaver forced Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez into popouts and flyouts.

But Weaver had thrown two full innings just once this postseason, in the Yankees’ Game 5 ALCS win over the Cleveland Guardians. Boone retired him after 1.2 frames and put Cousins on the mound in the tenth.

Cousins walked Gavin Lux with one out and then allowed an infield single to Tommy Edman before being retired in favor of Cortes, who last pitched on September 18 before suffering a UCL injury.

The Yankees had a one-run lead when Boone made the controversial decision to walk Betts, loading the bases with one out.

In the ninth inning, allowing an intentional walk was successful for the Dodgers as they allowed Juan Soto on base before Aaron Judge was forced to pop out.

The same tactic didn’t work so well for the Yankees. Freeman hit his grand slam on Cortes’ next pitch.

Weaver’s reliability as a closer was an important part of the Yankees’ participation in the World Series. He has recorded four saves in nine appearances, and outside of his struggles in Game 3 of the ALCS, he has been consistently solid.

Given Boone’s regrets about Game 1, the pressure could be on Weaver to close out Game 2 if the Yankees take a similar late lead on Saturday night in Los Angeles.