New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo made a costly miscue against the Orioles on Sunday afternoon, and it ultimately helped Baltimore move into the driver’s seat in the American League East.
With the Yankees leading by one run and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Verdugo misread what seemed to be a routine fly ball and started to run in. Upon realizing he made the wrong read, Verdugo tried to backtrack but the liner from Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins went over his head for a walk-off two-run double.
“Saw it coming my way, took a step in, and that little step in was enough to beat me back,” Verdugo told reporters after the 6-5 loss, per YES Network.
“Just trying to catch up ground that I gave away in the initial step. Yeah, just trying to do anything I can to get to it.”
Verdugo felt he would have caught it for the game’s final out if he didn’t take the initial step in.
“It’s the wrong first step. I mean, just leave it at that,” Verdugo said. “I take a lot of pride out there defensively and this one’s on me.”
The Orioles enter MLB’s All-Star break with a one-game lead in the AL East. The Bronx Bombers hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the second spot in the division.
