Verdugo becoming Mr. Clutch
Alex Verdugo says he doesn’t keep track of the statistics in big moments. But they’re certainly hard to forget.
He remembers the feeling each time of stepping into the batter’s box knowing the game is on the line.
The pressure. The crowd noise. The pitcher staring him down.
“I’m a little more locked in,” Verdugo said. “You have a little more pressure. I just try to focus a little more and try to emphasize staying within myself and not doing too much.”
Lately, the approach has been exemplary.
Verdugo, Oklahoma City’s star outfield prospect, has become Mr. Clutch for the Dodgers through 12 days of the regular season. All seven of his RBI either tied or won a game as OKC entered Monday’s series finale with New Orleans on a seven-game win streak.
That, Verdugo said, was news to him Monday.
“I’ve just never really kept track of it,” he said. “I just try to go out there and in the situation with runners on, I just try to get the job done. I try to do anything I can to do it.”
On the homestand, Verdugo has delivered in numerous ways.
On April 10 against Round Rock, he had a two-run single in the ninth that tied the game to set up a walk-off hit by Travis Taijeron. On Saturday vs. New Orleans, Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the eighth that tied the game and set up a walk-off squeeze bunt by Rocky Gale.