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Boston Red Sox: The night Alex Verdugo saved the 2021 season

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 07: Alex Verdugo #99 of the Boston Red Sox follows his ball as he his a home run in the sixth inning of Game Two of the doubleheader MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 07: Alex Verdugo #99 of the Boston Red Sox follows his ball as he his a home run in the sixth inning of Game Two of the doubleheader MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox Alex Verdugo (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

The worst-case scenario almost played out for the Boston Red Sox in Saturday’s double header against the hot Toronto Blue Jays.

After losing the first game in walk-off fashion, Alex Cora’s squad was headed towards back-to-back losses in the twin bill until Alex Verdugo stepped up in the sixth inning and breathed some life into a Red Sox team that has been reeling since really the MLB All-Star break.

With the Red Sox trailing 1-0, Verdugo tied the game with a 410-foot blast to center field into the seats of Rogers Centre.  At that point anything could’ve still happened in the game, but for the moment, it was the spark the offense needed and really symbolized that resiliency the team has been exhibiting all season long.

Boston Red Sox down, but certainly not out

Just barely holding on to a Wild Card spot, Verdugo’s blast may have kept the Red Sox afloat.  At the very least, it temporary halted the emerging Blue Jays.

"“Anything can really change momentum,” Verdugo said following the game, via MLB.com.  “It’s a matter of how my teammates are reacting in the dugout – if they’re loud, if you’re vocal, people making good defensive plays.  Momentum can come and go at any point.”"

Perhaps Red Sox fans will look back at this game and Verdugo’s moment as the saving grace of the season.  At least, we hope so.  In tying the game, Verdugo put his team in position to not only make the outstanding pitching performance of Tanner Houck worth it, but it set up Jonathan Arauz to be the hero of the game with his clutch go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning to give the Red Sox a 2-1 victory.

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