Alex Verdugo gets last laugh with web gem to seal Yankees’ sweep of Astros
HOUSTON — The Astros made Alex Verdugo run a half marathon around left field for four games, peppering the ball his way nonstop.
Some he tracked down, some he came up just short on dives.
But the Yankees left fielder got the last laugh Sunday.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees clinging to a one-run lead, Verdugo charged in and made a sliding catch on Kyle Tucker’s sinking liner to put an emphatic end to a 4-3 win over the Astros.
“That one I felt pretty good on,” Verdugo said. “Had a good jump and had a good route to it. That one was lofted a little bit higher. It was still low enough to be a little bit in between. Coming off this series from the ones I’ve kind of just missed or just tipped off my glove, that one I felt a lot more comfortable going to. The other ones were a little bit more of a do-or-die, full layout. That one, I had time to do a basket catch.”
Alex Verdugo celebrates after catching a fly ball for the final out of the game against the Houston Astros on March 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas.Getty Images
Aaron Boone’s first instinct when the ball came off Tucker’s bat was that it was going to drop in.
“When I looked up, he was on the dead run tracking it and almost knew he had it,” Boone said. “Kind of hot dogged it a little bit even. I loved it.”
Alex Verdugo makes a catch during the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024.Getty Images
Alex Verdugo makes a sliding catch on a fly ball hit by Houston Astros’ Kyle Tucker for the final out on Sunday.AP
Verdugo jumped up from his slide and flexed, with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto flexing back at him across the outfield as the Yankees completed the sweep of the Astros.
“I got Judge and Soto out there [barking], so we just get amped up and we love it,” Verdugo said. “That’s kind of what we’re rolling with. We’re dawgs over here.”
Alex Verdugo makes an unsuccessful diving attempt to catch a fly ball in the third inning against the Houston Astros on March 29, 2024.Getty Images
The highlight-reel catch capped off a strong defensive series for Verdugo, which was especially noticeable given the Yankees’ left-field situation last season.
They cycled through 10 different left fielders that combined for minus-14 Defensive Runs Saved, which was tied for the worst mark in the majors at the position.
Verdugo didn’t get to every ball hit to left field at Minute Maid Park, but he made a strong effort every time and was “tremendous” defensively,” Boone said.
“Honestly, it’s been a lot of fun,” Verdugo said. “I look forward to making the plays and trying to help out our pitching staff. Even those tough ones that didn’t go our way, you got pitchers and everybody giving me positive affirmation that, ‘Hey, we love that hustle, we love that heart.’ it makes me want to go out there and keep working harder and make the plays for the guys.”
