Juan Soto delivers magical moment Yankees envisioned en route to pennant clincher
The Yankees are heading to their first World Series in 15 years thanks to their prized offseason acquisition providing one of the biggest swings in recent franchise history.
With game five tied in the top of the 10th, Juan Soto fouled off four straight pitches against Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis before clubbing a high fastball over the wall in dead center for a dramatic three-run home run to break the game open and send the Yanks to their first pennant since 2009.
Soto was electrified as the ball left the yard, and the Yankees poured out of the dugout as Soto rounded the bases, emphatically celebrating the entire way. Luke Weaver, victim of an improbable game-tying home run when he last pitched in game three, closed the door in the bottom half of the inning to start the celebration all over again.
The Yankees were in a position for Soto’s heroics thanks to yet another clutch at-bat from Giancarlo Stanton, who blasted a game-tying home run in the top of the sixth for his fifth home run of the playoffs. The bullpen kept Cleveland scoreless after Carlos Rodon’s strong start, and Soto took care of the rest.
The TBS broadcast showed Brian Cashman looking on as Soto rounded the bases, his blockbuster move over the winter that changed the outlook of the Yankee lineup and gave them the added star power to put them over the top.
“I was thanking God,” Cashman said when asked what was going through his mind as Soto’s homer cleared the center field wall. “It was awesome.”
Meanwhile, loud chants of “Re-sign Soto!” rained down from the stands as Yankee fans in Cleveland hung around for the celebration, and to give Cashman another plea to keep Soto in the Bronx long term.
First, Soto and the Yanks will have four more games to try and win in an effort to bring a title back to the Bronx. It was what Soto was brought to New York for, and for big moments like the one he provided on Saturday night, one Yankee fans will certainly never forget.
