Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo didn’t hit it hard. The ball left his bat at just 44 mph. But it got the job done.
Verdugo’s grounder to shortstop against closer Emmanuel Clase scored Jon Berti from third base to put the Yankees ahead 7-6 with one out in the top of the ninth inning against Cleveland.
New York won 8-6 over the Guardians in Game 4 of the ALCS on Friday night to take a 3-1 series lead. The Yankees are just one game away from the World Series.
Shortstop Brayan Rocchio bobbled Verdugo’s grounder, allowing him to reach on an error. But Verdugo was given the RBI because Berti would have scored even if the ball had been fielded cleanly.
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Gleyber Torres followed with a single to put New York ahead 8-6.
The former Red Sox outfielder went 0-for-3 with a walk, strikeout and RBI. He’s 6-for-27 (.222) with two doubles, three RBIs, four walks and four strikeouts in eight games this postseason.
The Red Sox traded Verdugo to the Yankees last Dec. 5 for pitchers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice.
