NEW YORK -- It was the last game of a six-game homestand at Yankee Stadium. The fans were hoping that Aaron Judge would at least tie Roger Maris by hitting his 61st home run, an American League record. But Judge wasn’t able to hit a home run in a rain-shortened 2-0 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday night.

• Yanks win rain-shortened game with Judge stranded on deck

Instead, it was left-hander Nestor Cortes who highlighted the game. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out five batters. The only hit he surrendered came in the fourth inning, when Rob Refsnyder hit a ground-rule double to left field. 

At first, Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t like the way Cortes was throwing the baseball. The skipper said Cortes was nibbling around the plate, a little off with his command and threw too many pitches (101). But Cortes had a different plan of attack while facing Boston for the third time this season. 

“Across the league, everybody knows I’m a strike thrower,” Cortes said. “I faced Boston already. They already know my game plan and stuff I do, so I was nibbling a little bit to see how aggressive they are. It was kind of the attack I wanted to do today. It worked out.”

Cortes’ ERA dropped to 2.56. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Cortes’ ERA is the fourth lowest by a Yankee pitcher through their first 27 starts of a season in the divisional era, trailing only Ron Guidry (1.77 ERA in 1978), Steve Kline (1.97 ERA in 1972) and Mel Stottlemyre (2.51 ERA in 1969). Coming off his regular-season success, Cortes is expected to play a big role in the postseason.

“It’s an honor to be in that list,” Cortes said. “For me, to pitch the way I pitch and try to compete the way I compete every single day I’m out there, I just try to give my team a chance to win that game.”

Before he left the press conference, Cortes couldn’t help but talk about Judge. Cortes said his teammates want to see Judge make history by breaking Maris’ record. What has impressed Cortes is that Judge’s demeanor has never changed.

“[Judge] is always the same guy. You [don’t] even notice that he is about to hit his 61st home run,” Cortes said. “In the clubhouse, behind the scenes, he is the same guy. That’s what makes him so special. No matter if he is on a tear or he is struggling, he is the same guy always.

“We feed off that energy, too. No matter how good or bad you are doing, we have to keep it level for every other guy that is in there. Aaron Judge has been the same guy since day 1.”