Of all the stats and highlights Alex Verdugo accumulated in the Boston Red Sox’s series against the Minnesota Twins, he impressed yet again in Thursday’s loss.
The outfielder only had one hit but certainly made it count, blasting a three-run double that tied the game and made things interesting in the eighth inning.
But the at bat was almost as impressive as the hit itself.
Verdugo battled through 10 pitches after getting in an 0-2 hole to start. He took two balls to even the count, fouled off two more, held off on a sinker to make it a full count and fouled off two more sliders before putting the ball in play to make it a 3-3 game.
Following the game, Verdugo broke down the at bat:
You know the situation. Bases loaded, we’re down by three. I see the bullpen. They had a lefty getting warmed up. So I kind of already figured I’ma probably face this guy if I get an at-bat. And I got up there and I don’t think it’s really how we drew it up, you know, getting down 0-2 like that but, yeah, man. He made a good pitch, fastball away, I just wanted to see one and then I probably should have went on that slider that was middle-in. It was go zone. I just took it, but I think it also benefited me in the long run because now I saw his fastball and his slider, and at that point I figured, you know, it can’t beat me. You know I just gotta stay direct to it. And seeing those pitches, really just kind of locked it in and got real hitterish and just stay short to the ball and fight. He made a couple good pitches. You know I fouled off a couple sliders and then got a fastball out and over and was able to stay on top of it and drive it to the left…
… If I took Adderall that’s probably what I would feel like right there, you know I was I was zoned in, locked in, and I wasn’t gonna let anything go. Just anything close, let it go and then let’s see. Good things happen.
Whatever Verdugo is doing, it’s working.
In the last seven games since the Red Sox dropped their opening series against the Baltimore Orioles to start the season, Verdugo has gone 10-for-29 with nine RBIs, three doubles and two home runs.
And that’s just on offense.
