The New York Yankees suffered a humiliating 9-2 defeat to the lowly Colorado Rockies at home on Saturday. However, struggling left fielder Alex Verdugo found a silver lining by snapping his 0-for-21 slump with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes Verdugo’s homer could be a pivotal moment for him, according to the YES Network.
Alex Verdugo, who homered, & losing pitcher Will Warren were two focal points when Aaron Boone spoke to @M_Marakovits & the media following Saturday's loss. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/JNwkS61Tf8
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 24, 2024
“He’s definitely been a bit unlucky when you look at our lineup,” Boone said. “Even when he’s been struggling, it seems like every time he makes solid contact, it ends up in someone’s glove. But in the last couple of days, he’s had some key at-bats, including a walk and another today before his home run. And he had a great game despite Ryan McMahon robbing him of a couple of hits. He’s had a three-on-base day, so we need to keep pushing forward and build on these small victories to hopefully get him going.”
Boone is known for defending his players, regardless of their performance, but he might have a point with Verdugo. The former Red Sox outfielder has underachieved this season, hitting just .227/.290/.358 in 2024 compared to his career averages of .272/.329/.416. It’s reasonable to expect him to return to his usual form as the season progresses, but he’ll need to deliver more consistent performances like Saturday’s.
Boone’s optimism didn’t end there; he also had encouraging words for a young pitcher.
