Big leagues
Posted May 22, 2024 at 10:15 pm Eastern Time
Hal Steinbrenner already knows what it cost to keep Aaron Judge in the Bronx.
The price of doing the same with Juan Soto continues to rise, as the pair of sluggers went two innings apart (and Soto hit two home runs) in the Yankees’ 7-3 victory over the Mariners at Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory allowed the Yankees to avoid their first three-game losing streak since April 14-16 and ensured that they would not be swept in a series for the first time this year.
Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 7-3 victory over the Mariners. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Judge got the Yankees on the board in the bottom of the first with his 14th home run of the year, a two-run opposite-field shot to right to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead after Anthony Volpe He opened the inning with an infield hit to extend his career hitting streak to 15 games.
With the home run, 10 of Judge’s previous 12 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs.
Soto followed in the third, when he came up after Volpe singled for the second time of the night.
Like Judge, Soto took the ball to the other side, and went to the center-left to make it 4-0.
Soto added another home run to left field to start the bottom of the sixth for a 5-0 lead and his 13th hit of the season.
Soto added to the show in the top of the seventh, when fans serenaded the right fielder with another “Juan Soto” chant during a visit to the mound and Soto waved his arms in encouragement.
Aaron Judge congratulates Juan Soto on his two-run home run in the third inning of the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
With a chance to put the finishing touch on Wednesday’s victory, Soto came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, this time to a chorus of “MVP.”
But this time Soto struck out.
Judge and Soto’s three combined home runs came from right-hander Bryce Miller, who allowed just five baserunners in six innings, but they all scored.
Néstor Cortés, pitching in the first inning, pitched five scoreless innings in the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
To make matters worse on Wednesday, Néstor Cortés dazzled again at home, pitching five scoreless innings, while the Yankees rotation continued to excel.
But the typically excellent bullpen faltered, as Michael Tonkin walked two batters in his second inning of work and Luke Weaver then gave up a three-run homer to Cal Raleigh to cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-3 with one out in the eighth. .
Alex Verdugo again gave the Yankees some protection in the bottom of the inning with the team’s fourth home run of the night, a two-run shot into the stands in right-center field.
Aaron Judge points to the crowd after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
The shot from 420 feet made it 7-3.
Cortes pitched with a walk to start the game, a Dylan Moore double in the second and a hit to lead off the third.
Like Clarke Schmidt on Tuesday, Cortes saw his pitch count increase early on.
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe singles during the third inning of the Yankees’ victory. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
He needed 27 pitches to get through the first inning and found himself at 74 pitches after three, when he stranded a pair of runners.
Cortes retired eight of his final nine batters before giving way to Tommy Kahnle, who was making his first appearance of the season after missing time with shoulder inflammation.
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