Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • New York Post

    Juan Soto, Aaron Judge power Yankees over Mariners to avoid first three-game skid

    By Bridget Reilly,

    24 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2SKTeH_0tIByaxh00

    It’s unknown how long Juan Soto will be a Yankee, but while he’s here, he’s certainly making Yankee Stadium his home.

    While Hal Steinbrenner has made it known he wants to keep Soto, the price of keeping him alongside Aaron Judge continues to rise, as the pair of sluggers went deep two innings apart — and Soto homered twice — in the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Mariners at the Stadium on Wednesday.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1l1xY3_0tIByaxh00
    Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Mariners. Robert Sabo for NY Post

    The victory allowed the Yankees to avoid their first three-game losing streak since April 14-16.

    After Judge’s first-inning homer, Soto added two more later in the game, as he continues to soak up the adoration of the fans.

    He even heard chants of “MVP” more than once over the course of the game.

    “I still think it’s way too early,” Soto said of the fans already crowning him with the award. “It’s fun to see those fans go at it every day. It’s unbelievable. I’ve just got to turn around and they go crazy.”

    Oswaldo Cabrera helping Yankees survive in DJ LeMahieu’s absence

    The home runs — and his clear obvious connection with the fans — certainly help.

    “I’m enjoying every part of it,” Soto said. “I’m having fun with it. You never know how long it’s gonna be like that.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=234Ldy_0tIByaxh00
    Aaron Judge congratulates Juan Soto on his two-run homer in the third inning of the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for NY Post

    Judge knows the other side of that, since some fans turned on him in the postseason after his record-setting home run year in 2022. For now, though, Judge said the love-fest with Soto “gives me chills.”

    Judge got the Yankees on the board in the bottom of the first with his 14th home run of the year — his seventh in the first inning.

    This one was an opposite-field, two-run shot to right to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead after Anthony Volpe led off the inning with an infield hit to extend his career-high hitting streak to 15 games.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0A1KM0_0tIByaxh00
    Nestor Cortes, delivering a pitch in the first inning, threw five scoreless innings in the Yankees’ win. Robert Sabo for NY Post

    Luis Gil dominates again in Yankees’ win over Mariners

    With the homer, 10 of Judge’s last 12 hits have gone for extra bases, including four home runs.

    Soto followed in the third, as he came up after Volpe singled for the second time on the night.

    Like Judge, Soto took the ball the other way, as it went out to left-center to make it 4-0.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2hnc1B_0tIByaxh00
    Aaron Judge points to the crowd after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning of the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for NY Post

    Soto added another opposite-field homer to left to start the bottom of the sixth for a 5-0 lead, his 13th blast of the season.

    Soto added to the show in the top of the seventh, as the fans serenaded the right fielder with another “Juan Soto” chant during a visit to the mound and Soto waved his arms in encouragement.

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR STARTING LINEUP NEWSLETTER

    With a chance to put the finishing touch on Wednesday’s win, Soto came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh, again, with the crowd on its feet.

    But this time, Soto struck out.

    The homers by Judge and Soto all came off right-hander Bryce Miller, who allowed just five base runners over six innings, but they all scored.

    And the top four hitters in the Yankee lineup went 6-for-14 with four home runs.

    “He’s one of the best hitters in the game,” Judge said of Soto. “You add that to a lineup, things are gonna change.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2k1dgK_0tIByaxh00
    Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe singles during the third inning of the Yankees’ win. Robert Sabo for NY Post

    To top it off on Wednesday, Nestor Cortes dazzled at home again, tossing five shutout innings, as the Yankee rotation continued to excel.

    But the typically excellent bullpen briefly faltered in the eighth, as Michael Tonkin walked two batters in his second inning of work and Luke Weaver then allowed a three-run homer to Cal Raleigh to cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-3 with one out in the eighth.

    Alex Verdugo gave the Yankees some cushion again in the bottom of the inning with the team’s fourth homer of the night, a two-run shot into the bleachers in right-center. The 420-foot shot made it 7-3.

    For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular
    Total Apex Sports & Entertainment1 day ago

    Comments / 0