Nestor Cortes hit hard by Blue Jays as Yankees lefty makes spring debut: ‘Not a nasty start’

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Blue Jays refused to take it easy on Nestor Cortes in his spring debut on Saturday.

The Yankees southpaw, sidelined up to this point by a hamstring injury, faced an Opening Day-esque Toronto lineup in his return to the mound. That combination resulted in Cortes allowing five earned runs, including homers to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Whit Merrifield, over 3.1 innings of work. Cortes also walked three and struck out four.

“Not a nasty start,” Cortes said after the game, a nod to his nickname. But considering the hamstring injury and the groin issue that led to a prem...