BOSTON — Alex Verdugo had a two-run homer and 4 RBIs in his return to Fenway Park, and Luis Gil struck out six because the MLB-leading New York Yankees beat the Boston Purple Sox 8-1 on Friday night time.
Verdugo spent 4 seasons with the Purple Sox earlier than being traded to New York in December in a uncommon deal between the AL East division rivals.
“To return over right here, do what we did as a staff and clearly the swing that I placed on within the first to present us the lead, it was a giant second,” Verdugo mentioned. “It felt like a whole lot of aid for me, and likewise simply a whole lot of anticipation for this matchup.
“It was pure adrenaline, simply fired up. Wasn’t actually anticipating to swing on the first pitch and to place it out of the ballpark and provides us the early 2-0 lead was massive. I type of let a bit of yell out once I rounded first, and once I hit second, I noticed my dugout going loopy, so I simply type of misplaced it once more.”
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Verdugo hit the primary pitch he noticed from Boston right-hander Brayan Bello to straightaway middle subject for his ninth homer of the season, scoring Juan Soto, who reached on a double. The 28-year-old proper fielder added an RBI double within the fifth inning and a run-scoring single within the ninth.
“That is actually spectacular,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “I have been there, the place you return and play, and from my expertise, it is odd, it is arduous to normalize issues. He was very calm earlier than the sport. In my thoughts, perhaps he was a bit of nervous. However, he got here proper out and delivered a punch on the primary pitch and did not cease. Fairly spectacular efficiency, realizing it meant lots to him.”
Verdugo’s 4 RBIs are tied for essentially the most by any participant in a sport in opposition to Boston this season, in response to ESPN Stats & Data.
Gil (9-1) labored 5 innings, giving up one run on 4 hits with 4 walks. The 26-year-old righty threw a season-high 104 pitches. In his final 9 begins, Gil is 8-0 with a 1.14 ERA, giving up seven earned runs over 55 â…“ innings.
The Yankees (50-22) acquired a run within the fourth when Giancarlo Stanton led off with a single, and Anthony Rizzo walked. After Gleyber Torres grounded right into a double play, it appeared Bello acquired out of the inning on Oswaldo Cabrera’s groundball to first baseman Dominic Smith. However, Bello’s error making an attempt to cowl first allowed Stanton to attain.
The Yankees added two runs within the fifth when Anthony Volpe singled to open the inning. Aaron Decide adopted with a one-out stroll. Verdugo’s double scored Volpe and despatched Decide to 3rd. After Giancarlo Stanton struck out, Bello’s outing was accomplished. He was changed by left-hander Cam Booser, who gave up a run-scoring single to Rizzo.
Within the ninth, Yankees No. 9 hitter Jose Trevino hit a solo dwelling run off right-hander Chase Anderson, his seventh of the season. With two outs, Soto walked and scored on a double by Decide. Verdugo adopted with a single that scored Decide.
New York relievers Tommy Kahnle, Caleb Ferguson, Victor González and Michael Tonkin mixed to pitch 4 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Ferguson struck out all 4 batters he confronted.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
