Red Sox’ Alex Verdugo benched for lack of hustle in Wednesday’s loss to Guardians

Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo was removed from Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Guardians after not hustling out a play in the top of the seventh inning, according to The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.

With two outs and Verdugo on first base after reaching on a fielder’s choice, Masataka Yoshida hit a slow tapper to the right side of the infield. First baseman Josh Naylor had to charge on the ball in order to field it, leaving him with only a force play attempt at second.

Naylor made an off-balance throw to shortstop Amed Rosario, who remained on the second-base bag long enough to record the final out of the inning. Upon further review, it appeared as though Verdugo stopped in his tracks to see where the ball was as he was going from first to second base.

Had he been running at full speed, Verdugo may have reached base safely to put runners at first and second with two outs for Justin Turner. He instead yelled in anger after the play and was removed from the contest in the bottom of the eighth. In his place, Jarren Duran slid over from center to right field, Enrique Hernandez moved from shortstop to center, Pablo Reyes shifted from second to short, and Christian Arroyo took over at second while taking Verdugo’s spot in the order.

As a result of Wednesday’s lack of effort, Verdugo is not in the starting lineup for Thursday’s series finale at Progressive Field. Rob Refsnyder will get the start in right field in his place and bat sixth as the 31-31 Red Sox look to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since April 28.

Verdugo, 27, is in the midst of his fourth season with Boston. The left-handed hitter currently leads the team in both bWAR (2.3) and fWAR (2.0) and is batting .286/.364/.450 (122 wRC+) with 19 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 24 RBIs, 42 runs scored, three stolen bases, 25 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 59 games (261 plate appearances). He has put up those numbers while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in right field as well.

To that end, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) that Verdugo will be back in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees in the Bronx.