Baseball can be a humbling game, and a New York Yankees outfielder was reminded of this truth on Sunday afternoon. The Bronx Bombers were one out away from completing a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, but Alex Verdugo couldn’t flash the leather when it mattered most.
Verdugo misplayed a routine fly ball with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the O’s to score the tying and winning runs, thereby terminating the game.
CEDRIC MULLINS WALKS IT OFF FOR THE ORIOLES AFTER A BRUTAL ALEX VERDUGO MISTAKE 🤯pic.twitter.com/uKU25c4VFz
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 14, 2024
The catastrophic error angered the Yankees supporters, as New York squandered an opportunity to regain the American League East lead heading into the All-Star break. X user SLAM CENTRAL STATION made a meme mocking Verdugo.
Meanwhile, Underdog Fantasy’s Jared Carrabis took a satirical tone.
The Red Sox carrying Alex Verdugo’s bags out of Fenway when Brian Cashman called:
pic.twitter.com/Hqb3IWddEr— SLAM CENTRAL STATION (@SlamCentralNYY) July 14, 2024
Mike Scudiero, the presenter of the podcast “Yapping Yankees,” has had it with both Verdugo and shortstop Anthony Volpe, according to X.
“Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo are inexcusable,” Scudiero stated. “To say it is inappropriate is an understatement of the century. Volpe landed another basic grounder in a huge location, and Verdugo’s legs simply stopped working. “What a terrible loss.”
Sums up the last few weeks for Alex Verdugo… #RepBx pic.twitter.com/aHSLuWMIAH
— chone (@chone_sports) July 14, 2024
Volpe’s error came just before Verdugo’s, when he bobbled a grounder hit by Baltimore’s Ryan Mountcastle and failed to flip the ball to second base in time for the force. This would have been the third out if he had played the ball correctly, approaching it rather than allowing it to come to him.
Both players accepted responsibility after the game. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Verdugo sulked in grief following the devastating loss.
“Alex Verdugo spiked his hat to the clubhouse floor and sat at his locker, head bowed, elbows on knees,” Hoch observed. “‘That one’s on me.'”
Volpe provided a more extensive explanation of his error, via Hoch.
“Anthony Volpe: ‘I didn’t move my feet,'” Hoch stated. “That is a normal ground ball. “Good infielders use their feet to get a good hop.”
The combination of closer Clay Holmes’ problems and these Little League-esque defensive miscues caused New York to squander rookie Ben Rice’s courageous three-run homer in the top half of the ninth inning, which gave the team a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
How will the club recover from this?
Yankees’ latest setback strengthens their trade deadline needs.
The Red Sox carrying Alex Verdugo’s bags out of Fenway when Brian Cashman called:
pic.twitter.com/Hqb3IWddEr— SLAM CENTRAL STATION (@SlamCentralNYY) July 14, 2024
New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo (24) reacts after being tagged out at home plate in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium.
New York desperately needs bullpen and infield help, as the present cast of personalities has shown to be unreliable. Once Verdugo is well, top prospect Jasson Dominguez should be called up to share time with him in left field, as the former Red Sox outfielder has collapsed after a strong start to the season.
Verdugo has a.158/.220/.228 batting line in his previous 25 games, while Volpe has.191/.222/.270 in his last 41. Meanwhile, Holmes is 0-3 with a 7.45 ERA and.302 opponent batting average in his last ten games, and his six blown saves lead the AL.
Additionally, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu have been unproductive throughout the season. If the Yankees do not acquire more consistent infield bats and bullpen arms by July 30th, they may be in for an unpleasant awakening.
