2023-08-27 16:26:57
BOSTON – Alex Verdugo has taken his offense to a new level.
On Saturday, Verdugo became the first player in Red Sox history to homer in his first at-bat of the game, leading off his team, in three consecutive games.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Verdugo is the third player to do so since 1900.
The Braves’ star Venezuelan outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. put together a run like this over three games in 2018, starting both games of a doubleheader against the Marlins on Aug. 13 of that year with a home run, and then doing the same every day. following.
Brady Anderson holds the record for hitting a four-game streak with a leadoff home run between April 18 and 21, 1996.
“Es cool [ser parte de la historia], especially for me, because I’m not a home run hitter,” Verdugo said. “So to see that and know that is great, but at the end of the day, it’s not like I’m overthinking it or anything like that. It’s just that I’ve had a good time as a leadoff hitter, so we’ve got to keep taking good at-bats and keep hitting the ball well.”
After a chilly July (.151/.232/.247), Verdugo has come back to life in August (.325/.356/.578). Four of his five home runs this month have been home runs.
While much of the attention at Fenway Park this weekend has been on Mookie Betts returning to Boston to play the Red Sox for the first time, Verdugo – who was the key player in that trade to the Red Sox – is also playing. against the Dodgers for the first time.
“He’s in a good place right now,” Cora said. “They gave him a high breaking pitch and he took a good swing. He has been up to the task for this series. From all that we’ve been talking about the other guys, he’s part of the turnaround and this story between the Dodgers and the Red Sox. He is excited “.
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