NEW YORK — Chanting descended from the stands Wednesday night after Juan Soto had hit his second home run of the game into the left field stands. Hearing the syllables of his name interspersed with proclamations of “MVP!”, the Dominican Yankees superstar turned to the wall and raised both hands high.
These first few months in a Yankees uniform have been a dream for Soto, and the key ingredient has been blocking out the noise. No matter who is talking about what his contract and his future might look like, a daily conversation in town at this point, Soto has been able to focus on delivering results.
“It’s unbelievable,” Soto said after his second multi-homer game as a member of the Yankees, helping spark a 7-3 victory about the Mariners. “All I have to do is turn around and they go crazy. I know there are many Dominicans; Everyone wants me to say hello. “I try to greet everyone, but I also have to stay focused on the game.”
Aaron Judge, meanwhile, hit his team-high 14th home run before Alex Verdugo added a homer in the eighth inning, helping the Yankees to their 34th victory of the year, the most in the league. American League. The applause was loud for the two of them, too, but each night has become a total love fest for Soto, with all that adoration representing an invitation for him to stay for the long haul.
“I’m enjoying every part of this,” Soto continued. “I have fun with this. You never know how long it’s going to last like this, so you try to enjoy every second, soak it all in and move on.”
Wednesday’s game marked the third time Judge and Soto have homered in the same challenge as clubmates. They also did it on April 24 (against the A’s) and May 8 (against the Astros).
As they might have expected when they made the December trade to bring the two power hitters together, the Bombers have won those three games in which both homered. Judge said the constant nightly support for Soto “gives me goosebumps.”
“Is incredible. “I love it,” Judge said. “Just from the short time I’ve been around him, watching him work in spring training and getting to know him and his routine, and then seeing that routine take off in the game, it’s kind of fun to watch. The fans are definitely loving the show he is putting on.”
Judge hit Bryce Miller with a two-run homer in the first inning. Soto added a two-run homer in the third, placing his drive into the visiting bullpen, before sending a solo shot into the left field stands in the sixth.
After each home run, Soto met with assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, carefully examining the mechanics of his swing.
“It’s always good to go that way,” Soto said about the importance for him of being able to hit to the opposite wing. “I always say, when I’m hitting balls in that direction, it means a lot to me. That tells you if my swing is right.”
Soto has never had a three-homer game in the majors, and he had a chance in the seventh with the bases loaded. Appearing to try to hit a home run, Soto struck out against Cody Bolton.
“It was on his mind,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I think he tried it a couple of times too. You always feel like that’s at stake. There have been a couple [de juegos] where you think, ‘We could see something special here.’ He’s just a special player and a special swing.”
Soto confessed: “I think I overdid it. “I got too excited.”
That’s not true, at least if you ask their fan section in the stands, or anyone in the clubhouse.
“We know who he is,” said Cuban left-hander Néstor Cortés. “He is a guy who is going to fight in his at-bats, and if you make a mistake at the plate, you will pay for it. That is exactly what has happened this year.
“…Seeing him from the other side of the field, you know how good he is. But once he’s on your side, the work that he puts in, how young he is and how much he cares about what he does, it’s just a different factor.”
Cortés struck out six in five scoreless innings, with three hits and three walks. Cortes improved to 3-1 with a 1.12 ERA in six home starts this season.
Cal Raleigh hit a three-run homer off Luke Weaver in the eighth, but Verdugo responded with a two-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Verdugo flexed his biceps as he began his jog around the bases, looking directly at Soto, whom he threw an arm over his shoulder as they celebrated in the dugout.
“Everyone knows how good my teammates are,” Soto recalled. “They’ve really made me feel comfortable in this lineup, in this clubhouse. “I think they’ve been doing a great job for me.”
