Bill Koch

Saturday

Aug 22, 2020 at 6:26 PM


Alex Verdugo is on a 12-game hitting streak. It would seem to be the perfect time to declare him the everyday leadoff hitter.


Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke sees it differently.


Verdugo will continue to front the lineup against right-handers like Alex Cobb, who drew the start for the Orioles on Saturday night at Camden Yards. He was down in the lineup Friday night against Baltimore left-hander John Means.


"The thing I don’t particularly care for in our [...]

Alex Verdugo is on a 12-game hitting streak. It would seem to be the perfect time to declare him the everyday leadoff hitter.


Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke sees it differently.


Verdugo will continue to front the lineup against right-handers like Alex Cobb, who drew the start for the Orioles on Saturday night at Camden Yards. He was down in the lineup Friday night against Baltimore left-hander John Means.


"The thing I don’t particularly care for in our lineup is to have two lefties in a row right off," Roenicke said. "When we face the left-handers, that allows them to start the game against two lefties. Traditionally they’re going to pitch a lot better against the left-handers."


Roenicke appears committed to his next three hitters in their designated spots – Rafael Devers second, J.D. Martinez third and Xander Bogaerts fourth. That’s the heart of the Boston lineup, and all three players homered in Friday’s 8-5 victory. Kevin Pillar was at the top and went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.


"Those guys are really important to get on base because they’re getting on in front of J.D., Bogey, Mitch (Moreland) – you need them to be on base," Roenicke said. "If you allow that spot to be open for the good left-handers to come in, your on-base percentage isn’t going to be the same. Your productivity from your RBI guys won’t be the same.


"That’s why. If one of them was right-handed I wouldn’t worry about it. I just don’t want to go back-to-back lefties."


Verdugo is 16-for-47 with six walks, six doubles, two home runs and 10 runs scored during the hitting streak. He recorded an extra-base hit in seven straight games during one stretch, the first Red Sox hitter to do so since Dwight Evans in 1982. Verdugo leads the Red Sox with 26 hits, 15 runs scored and 47 total bases.


bkoch@providencejournal.com


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