Alex Verdugo flashes the leather for the second straight game, crushes a two-run homer off Luis Severino
Verdugo: 'I’m going for a Gold Glove'
Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo has made three great plays in the outfield to begin the new season. In addition, Verdugo also crushed his first homer of 2022 in the second inning in the Red Sox 4-2 loss to the Yankees.
In the top of the second inning, J.D. Martinez led off the inning with an infield single. Verdugo who has been hitting in the five hole for manager Alex Cora smashed a 382-foot, 98 mph fastball from Luis Severino into the right field seats.
As Verdugo was rounding the bases, the 25-year-old pointed to his family in the left field crowd.
“Obviously rounding third, I pointed at them,” Verdugo said. “Just my mom, my girl and my kid. So just a special moment.”
Verdugo finished the day 2-for-3 with the homer and a walk. He has started the season 4-for-8 after struggling at the plate during Spring Training.
Verdugo always seems to step up for the Red Sox when they play in the Bronx.
“Honestly, ain’t nothing better than hitting a home run in New York,” Verdugo said. “So it feels good to give the team a lead early and just kind of set the tone. It’s huge. It’s tough that they come back and we don’t score another run all game. But besides that, we’re all about momentum and I think we’re right there. We’re just a click away from everybody firing on the same page.”
Verdugo also made a great diving catch in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a fly ball to left that began to drop and Verdugo made a running diving catch.
Verdugo has never won a Gold Glove but has displayed a ton of potential during his tenure in Boston. After the game Verdugo told reporters that he wants to win a Gold Glove this season.
“I’m going for a Gold Glove,” Verdugo said. “I’ve got to go for a Gold Glove this year. And also, I just figured you can’t do it on the offense side every single time. But defense side is something we can control. So just try to get anything I can and make it easier on my pitchers.”
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