Notes: Verdugo snaps out of skid, shortstop talk, thinking of Newcombe
by Rowan Kavner
Alex Verdugo tried to keep a positive mindset as the zeroes uncharacteristically mounted at the plate.
The rookie outfielder hadn’t gone more than two straight games without a hit this season before falling victim to four straight hitless games during the Dodgers’ latest road trip, but he broke out with three hits Tuesday in Anaheim and added two more Thursday in Los Angeles including a double.
“You’ve got to have that mindset that you’re going to get out of it and things are going to get better that next at-bat,” Verdugo said.
Verdugo saw his .342 batting average after the first day of May drop to .287 by June 10, but he said he still felt good during his mini-skid at the start of the month. He’s now back up to slashing .303/.361/.465.
“Even during the slump where I was 0-for-18, there were a couple at-bats against the D-backs where I hit the ball hard and just the shift got me, a couple diving plays got me,” Verdugo said.
On his first hit to break the hitless skid, Verdugo beat out an infield single. In that game, manager Dave Roberts thought the outfielder started to look more synched up and was taking better swings.
There was a point, Roberts said, where he thought Verdugo’s swing was getting too big and his mechanics were off. But he liked what he saw in Anaheim and on Thursday.
“Tonight really is what we’ve seen to know of Alex when he’s really rolling,” Roberts said after Thursday’s win.
Shortstop Plan
Chris Taylor, who started Thursday at shortstop in Corey Seager’s first game out since injuring his hamstring, will start at shortstop again Friday.
Roberts said both Taylor and Kiké Hernández will get their opportunities at the position, and Hernández will start at the spot Saturday.
“It’s not one or the other,” Roberts said. “It’s more of just kind of mixing and matching and keeping those guys both current.”
Roberts said even if Taylor gets the bulk of the starts at shortstop, the Dodgers will still find ways to get Hernández roughly five games a week.
Thinking of Newk
- Today, Don Newcombe would have celebrated his 93rd birthday. The Dodger legend passed away on Feb. 19 earlier this year.
