The highlights of the New York Yankees’ 5-2 win over Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALCS were Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Carlos Rodon, and Luke Weaver. While Stanton and Soto slammed a homer each, Rodon and Weaver restricted the Guardians to just 2 runs by the end of the ball game.
However, New York Yankees captain and premier AL-MVP candidate Aaron Judge was nowhere in the picture as his postseason woes hit the celling. Amid growing criticism over Judge’s choking trend in playoffs, his teammate Juan Soto came out in his support to remind the fans that baseball, after all, is a team sport.
Juan Soto Says Yankees Not Reliant On Just One Man
Aaron Judge’s 2024 postseason struggles have become a point of frustration for the New York Yankees despite his stellar regular-season performance. While Judge has delivered in past years, this October has seen him in a slump, much like his prolonged homer-less streak from August to September. Judge is yet to make a significant impact in the playoffs this season, with no standout hits or headline-worthy performances. The chants of “MVP” that once echoed through Yankee Stadium have quieted as Judge continues to search for his rhythm. However, to shut down the outside noise, Judge’s teammate, Juan Soto, has expressed full support for him, dismissing the idea that the captain is under extra pressure in October.
“Some days, you can’t find the hole. I think he’s going to be fine. It’s a team effort at the end of the day. We can’t lean on only him,” Juan Soto said in the post-game presser. In Game 1 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, Aaron Judge may not have had a breakout game, but he made crucial contributions on defense with two running catches off Jose Ramirez’s line drives. Offensively, while not explosive, he walked, scored, and added a sacrifice fly that drove in a run. His defensive skills and leadership are still making a difference, even as he struggles to regain his batting form. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton has stepped up, hitting his 13th postseason home run in the same game, tying him with Babe Ruth for most postseason homers by a Yankee. However, the team will need Judge to join in if they are to continue their postseason success.
Soto Scripts History In Yankees ALCS Game 1 Win
The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 1 of the ALCS, taking a crucial 1-0 lead in the series. With this victory, the Yankees are now just three wins away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton each hit solo home runs.
With that, Soto’s incredible postseason performance continues, as he is now hitting .353 in the playoffs. Not only that, Juan Soto also made history, as he became the youngest player at 25 years and 355 days to hit his first postseason home run with a third different team, surpassing Manny Machado’s previous mark.
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