Alex Verdugo’s timely homer in the Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the Diamondbacks not only secured a crucial win but also earned him a distinctive call from the iconic Yankees’ play-by-play announcer, John Sterling.
In the top of the 10th inning with the game tied at 2, Alex Verdugo smashed a towering shot, propelling a two-run homer that propelled the Yankees to a 4-2 lead.
Sterling’s signature call rang out: “He hits a high drive to right. That ball is high. It is far, it is gone!” as the ball soared 395 feet into the right field at 104.9 miles per hour.
Drenched in Sterling’s flair, he christened Verdugo as “Alex Verdugo. Alexander the Great,” a moniker likely to stick for the remainder of Verdugo’s tenure in pinstripes.
This marked Alex Verdugo’s debut homer as a Yankee, following his acquisition from the Red Sox in the offseason in a trade involving reliever Greg Weissert along with minor league pitchers Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice.
Alex Verdugo’s happiness following his first home run
Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Alex Verdugo expressed satisfaction, stating, “First one with New York, big spot like that, it felt good. Seeing the boys get fired up, everybody’s barking at me, it was one of those ones that just felt good.”
In a post-game interview, Alex Verdugo was asked about his approach at the plate during his pivotal 10th inning at-bat. Responding with clarity, Verdugo revealed his mindset, stating that he aimed to be aggressive from the outset. With a runner positioned on second base and no outs, Verdugo acknowledged the importance of advancing the runner. He also emphasized his strategy of driving the ball to the right side of the field, aiming to execute a productive at-bat. Verdugo’s disciplined approach paid off as he capitalized on a favorable pitch, demonstrating impeccable timing and delivering a solid swing that resulted in the game-changing home run.
“Yeah, I mean yeah I just went up there and figured you know runner on second nobody out just got to get him over right you know and yeah it was basically just trying to hit hit the ball to right side on the right side and got a good pitch you know timing was there and made a good swing”. Said Alex Verdugo in a interview with the Yes Network.
Alex Verdugo vs. Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks retaliated in the bottom of the 10th, notching two runs, including one off an error by Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Nevertheless, the Yankees surged ahead in the 11th inning, with Jon Berti scoring off a balk and Aaron Judge’s double bringing in Gleyber Torres.
Clay Holmes secured the victory in the final inning, fending off the tying run by striking out three batters.
Alex Verdugo, 27, stands at the threshold of a contract year, coming off a season where he boasted a .264 batting average with a .745 OPS across 142 games. He is slated to earn $9.2 million next season, the final year of arbitration.
Before his standout performance against the Diamondbacks, Verdugo had struggled, managing a .143 batting average with a .351 OPS, recording three hits and one RBI in six game appearances and 24 plate appearances.
In the game against the Diamondbacks, Verdugo went 1-for-4, adding to his highlight reel with the crucial homer, showcasing his potential impact for the Yankees’ lineup.
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