With disappointing outings from ace Gerrit Cole and powerhouse hitters Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo took charge for the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, securing a 6-5 victory over the Royals. Making his postseason debut in the iconic pinstripes in front of 48,790 fans, Dugie demonstrated why the Yankees’ front office continued to believe in him despite his struggles during the regular season.
Rocky start for the Yanks
The Royals got on the board early with a sac fly from Tommy Pham in the top of the second and a home run by MJ Melendez in the fourth, both against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who struggled over five innings and was charged with three runs. Meanwhile, the super bash bros were quiet at the plate, as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both went 0-for-4; Judge struck out three times, while Stanton struck out twice and walked once. Additionally, Anthony Volpe went hitless in the game.
Dugie Delivers
Just days before the ALDS, it was uncertain whether Verdugo would secure the starting job in left field, even to him. After the final regular season game against the Pirates, where he delivered a crucial two-run single in the eighth inning, he told reporters,
It’s no longer about what you did in the [regular] season; it’s really not. It’s about what you go out there and do and how clutch you can be.
And he meant it in the most literal sense.
In Game 1 of the ALDS, Verdugo went 2-for-3 with a walk, delivering the go-ahead single with a line drive to left in the bottom of the seventh.
Alex Verdugo RBI single!@Yankees lead! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/bxfPQOlQt4
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024
Alongside Verdugo’s timely hitting, his defense played a vital role as he halted the Royals from adding to their two-run inning with a sliding catch near the left field foul line in the fourth inning.
Other Key Contributors
Other key contributors for the Yankees included Gleyber Torres, who hit a two-run homer in the third inning, Austin Wells, who had a game-tying RBI single in the sixth, which set the stage for Verdugo’s deciding hit, Clay Holmes who held the Royals scoreless in 1.2 innings, and Luke Weaver who closed the game out with three strikeouts in 1.1 shutout innings. Honorable mentions go to Juan Soto, who notched three hits in five at-bats, and Oswaldo Cabrera, who secured a starting role at his fifth-most-played position, making several impressive plays to save throws in the dirt at first base.
ALDS Schedule
Game 2: Royals at Yankees, Monday, Oct. 7, 7:38 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV/Max
Carlos Rodón LHP | 16-9, 3.96 ERA, 195 SO
Cole Ragans LHP | 11-9, 3.14 ERA, 223 SO
Game 3: Yankees at Royals, Wednesday, Oct. 9, Time TBD, TBS/truTV/Max
Clarke Schmidt RHP | 5-5, 2.85 ERA, 93 SO
TBD
Game 4: Yankees at Royals, Thursday, Oct. 10, Time TBD, TBS/truTV/Max (if necessary)
Game 5: Royals at Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 12, Time TBD, TBS/Max (if necessary)
