Day: April 28, 2024

Alex Verdugo eyed a lineup card with his name in the cleanup spot on Saturday, making it the first time he was there as a plate for the Yankees. His first thoughts were to maintain “a humble approach,’’ remaining himself to see the ball well and use the whole field.

Verdugo immediately made an impact in one pitch, cracking a three-run homer in the first inning that sent New York to its biggest offence outburst. Gleyber Torres added a big three-run double as the Bombers moved to a 15-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday at the American Family Field.

“That four spot is a great spot in the lineup to come up with guys on the bases,” said Verdugo, who flipped his bat and gestured toward his teammates as he rounded the bases following his fourth homer of the season. “Today we just got it done.”

The 15 runs marked the Yanks’ most in a match since July 6, 2022, a 16-0 victory at Pittsburgh. Their 19 hits were their most since August 25, 2022, at Oakland (20).

“As hard as it is in this league to score runs, and as good as pitching is, to have a night like that is nice,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully there are little things that unlock and get a few guys going even more.”

Verdugo delivered his homer as he dug out an 87.6 mph slider from right-hander Joe Ross. He took advantage after a pitch struck Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto worked a walk. Torres busted the match open with a three-run double off Ross in the third inning.

“Finally, I did something for the team, especially in that situation,” Torres said. “There has been a lot of work in the cage. Finally, I saw a result tonight. … Here in the clubhouse, we’re a family. We know how hard the game is.”

Verdugo said he was happy for Torres, who entered Saturday’s match in a 5-for-32 (.156) slide.

“You have to eliminate results and go off feels or little victories that might not show up in the box score,” Verdugo said. “He’s been doing a good job of competing, fighting and working on his craft. Today was one of those days.”

Boone pleased by his decision to shake up the batting order, said Verdugo could bat fourth again on Sunday. Alex is hitting .350 (21-for-60) with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 18 games.

“I think he’ll be there tomorrow,” Boone said. “We’ll see.’’

Triston Casas is out with a torn cartilage in his left rib cage, and the Red Sox have acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper in a deal with the Cubs for cash considerations on Saturday. 

To make room for Cooper on the roster, Boston transferred Casas from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL. The earliest he can play for the Red Sox is June 21.

Copper, a right-handed hitter, was scheduled for assignment by Chicago on Tuesday. In 12 matches, he had a slash line of .270/.341/.342 with one homer and six RBIs. For his career, Cooper is a .268 hitter with 57 homers and 228 RBIs in 493 matches. 

Boston expects to activate Garrett for their home series against the San Francisco Giants that begins on Tuesday. 

Alex Cora was not sure how he would deploy Cooper, but it seems the right-hander will get most of the starts at first base until Triston returns.

“We’ll talk about it,” Cora said. “He’s a guy that can put together a good at-bat. He can hit lefties and righties. He’s a good defender. So we’ll sit down and go over what we’re going to do. We do believe he’s going to help us out.”

Boston has been using Bobby Dalbec at first base since Casas last played on April 20. Dalbec has struggled a lot at the plate. After going 2-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt in the Red Sox’s 17-0 rout over the Cubs on Saturday, he hits .128 with no homers and four RBIs in 47 at-bats.

It is left to be seen if Dalbec will be the odd man out when Cooper is activated. Cora commended him for his contributions to Saturday’s victory.

Cooper will significantly add to an injury-riddled Boston team while Casas is out. 

While the Red Sox have not given a timetable on Triston, his move to the 60-day IL provided some insight, but no change in Cora’s thought.

“Like I’ve been saying all along, man, Trevor [Story] is not going to be here, Casas is going to be out for a while,” said Cora. “We’ve got to be ready for [Sunday]. I understand that he’s going to be missed, but my mindset is whoever is playing is going to contribute. That’s the way we see it. That’s the way we’re going to do it, and we’re going to be OK.”

J.J. McCarthy met his match in the “State of Hockey.’’

The Minnesota Vikings NFL draft pick got a phone call from Wayne Gretzky during a virtual press conference after he was drafted 10th overall by the team on Thursday.

McMarthy apologized to the press as he declined “The Great One’s’’ call.

“Oh wow, that’s Wayne Gretzky,” McCarthy said in a video posted by the Vikings. “I’m sorry about that…Hockey guy 101 and I’m going to the hockey state.”

The former Michigan quarterback explained that the Hockey Hall of Famer is friends with his off the field marketing agent. Gretzky FaceTimed McCarthy after Michigan’s National Championship win in January.

“Just being able to sit there and to be witness to the greatness that is spreading his appreciation to what I was able to do and what I was able to represent meant so much,” McCarthy told reporters.

“Growing up, he was one of my G.O.A.T.S. and on my Mount Rushmore. I give so much credit to him because he inspired me so much.”

On Friday, Gretzky congratulated McCarthy and referred to him as a “wonderful young man’’ during the NHL on TNT’s pregame show.

McCarthy grew up playing hockey in Illinois and said the sport was his first love. He gave up hockey in freshman year of high school to pursue football.

“To go to a state that lives, breathes and eats hockey and football, it’s just a perfect fit,” He said.