By Carson Kass
When the Yankees traded for four-time Silver Slugger Juan Soto, they expected a game changer. A Game changer they got, as the outfielder mashed a three-run homer in Cleveland to put the Yankees on top in the 10th. The home run would eventually clinch the Yankees the pennant for the first time since the Obama administration.
“I was all over it, I kept telling myself, ‘You’re all over that guy.’ I just needed to make good contact, and I did,” Soto said. The homer was the first extra-inning home run in a postseason series-clinching win for the Yankees since manager Aaron Boone hit one in the ALCS Game seven against the Boston Red Sox in 2003.
Scoring started in the bottom of the second when Guardians Catcher Bo Naylor drove in his brother, Josh Naylor, on a double roped to left. The score would remain there until the sixth when outfielder David Fry hit a bloop single to bring in Steven Kwan, placing Cleveland up 2-0.
Soto has been a spark all year, evident from a rally he helped start in the sixth that would eventually tie the game. The two runs were sourced from outfielder Giancarlo Stanton who crushed a ball in the top of the sixth.
Stanton crushed two two-run home runs this series, earning himself ALCS MVP honors in a 4-1 series win over Cleveland. Outmatched during a shock run with their new manager Stephen Vogt, the Guardians just couldn’t find much.
Things remain difficult in Cleveland. Their 1948 World Series win remains closer to the invention of sliced bread than the present day. With being only 23rd in payroll, it seems Cleveland could spend some money and compete again. They played well versus the Yankees who are 2nd in payroll.
Soto has had the free agency question lingering with him all season. Set to be paid up to an estimated 600 million this off season, the four time All Star seems to be a perfect fit with a team willing to spend in New York, and his walk off later in the game certainly makes signing that check easier for the Yankees. Manager Aaron Boone described him as, “just easy to be around.”
“I think we should re-sign Soto, Seven-hundred million dollars, final offer!” Teammate Jazz Chisholm added during the post-game celebrations.
New York will be set to face off versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers want to beat the narrative set in a shortened season in 2020. The Yankees are expected by their fans to be here every year. The city of New York will expect nothing but a ring this week, but the same is true in the city of angels. Game one is in Los Angeles on Friday.