Verdugo, Bogaerts HRs power Boston
Both launch 2-run blasts after tough starts to season
There was a bit of concern trailing Xander Bogaerts and Alex Verdugo entering the season after they were each virtually ice cold from the plate this spring.
They’re hoping some swings they made on Saturday are a sign their bats will be heating up.
Verdugo and Bogaerts each hit two-run home runs, Tanner Houck held the Twins scoreless over five-plus innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0.
“I made a swing that felt good. I’m getting there,” said Bogaerts, who had his first homer after posting just three hits in 22 at-bats during the truncated exhibition season.
Verdugo now has three home runs after a 4-for-26 spring in which he also failed to go deep.
But he said he is isn’t focused on hitting for power.
“I feel like each year I always try to say I’m gonna try to hit 30 and I hit like 12,” Verdugo said. “So this year it’s been the other way around. Just trying to hit the ball hard, as many doubles as I can, and just finding it at the moment they’re carrying a little farther.”
Meanwhile, Houck (1-0) was solid, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out four. Matt Straham got the next three outs and Garrett Whitlock gave up just two hits while retiring the final seven.
“Made some adjustments I was super happy with,“Houck said. “Continuing to grow and take steps in the right direction.”
The Twins left six runners on base and were held scoreless for the second time in three games.
Minnesota starter Sonny Gray (0-1) allowed a homer to Verdugo in the second inning before being pulled two batters later with right hamstring tightness.
Gray tossed just 31 pitches, with a walk and one strikeout.
Josh Winder went 51⁄3 innings in relief, yielding two runs and four hits, a walk and Bogaerts’ home run while striking out two. The team said Gray is considered day-to-day.