About Last Night: The Juan Soto Show

By Paul Semendinger

August 14, 2024

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About Last Night:

The Yankees snapped their one-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago White Sox 4-1.

The Big Story:

The big story last night was Juan Soto. Soto blasted three home runs. He accounted for all of the Yankees' scoring.

On Monday, the Yankees had trouble scoring. Last night, they did (as a team) once again, but Juan Soto rescued them. Last night was the Juan Soto Show (with Nestor Cortes as the best supporting actor).

Regarding the Yankees' offense:

In the first inning, Juan Soto walked. No one else reached base. One total runner was left on base.

In the second inning, Gleyber Torres singled. No one else reached base. For the game, two total runners were left on base.

In the third inning, Anthony Volpe walked. One out later, Juan Soto homered giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Aaron Judge then singled. Three batters were now left on base.

In the fourth inning, with two outs, Oswaldo Cabrera singled and Anthony Volpe was hit by a pitch. None scored. That added up to five Yankees left on base.

In the fifth inning, Juan Soto homered again making the score 3-0 Yankees. With two outs, Giancarlo Stanton walked. He didn't score. The Yankees now had left six men on base.

In the sixth inning, no Yankee reached base.

In the seventh, Juan Soto blasted his third homer of the game. This was his first ever three home run game. Aaron Judge then singled. Austin Wells also singled, but the ball hit Judge causing him to be out. Wells didn't move up making seven Yankees left on base.

In the eighth, no Yankees reached base.

In the ninth, Alex Verdugo singled, Juan Soto walked, Aaron Judge walked, and then Austin Wells lined into a double play. That sealed the deal. No Yankee other than Juan Soto was able to drive in a run in the game. The Yankees left 9 men, in total, on base.

On the pitching side, Nestor Cortes pitched great. He turned back the clock and looked again like Nifty Nestor. He allowed only three hits over seven innings. Cortes set the side down in order in the first, second, third, and seventh innings. He walked no batters and struck out nine batters!

Mark Leiter did not pitch well in the eighth inning coming out of the bullpen. Tommy Kahnle bailed him out after Leiter gave up a run. Kahnle started the ninth inning, walked the first batter, fell behind the second, and gave up a double, and was lifted. Jake Cousins came in, gave up a walk, but struck out two batters and earned his first career save.

Player(s) of the Game:

• Juan Soto: 3-for-3, 3 home runs, 4 runs batted in, 2 walks

• Nestor Cortes: 7 innings, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts, 0 runs

Better to Forget:

• Giancarlo Stanton went 0-for-3

• Ben Rice went 0-for-3

• Anthony Volpe went 0-for-2 (he did walk)

• The Yankees' bullpen (again)

My Take:

Juan Soto is a delight to watch. I hope he becomes a Yankee forever. What a joy. When people criticize his defense, or whatever, to me, it feels petty. It's like saying "Ted Williams can't play the field." With some players, who cares? Soto is such a gifted hitter who plays with such positive energy that he adds to the team in so many ways. So he's not the greatest fielder. He is a delight. To compain about Soto is like complaining when someone gives out free ice cream. "Chocolate? I wanted strawberry." Sometimes we need to appreciate the good or the great around us. And Soto is great. Period.

By the way, Soto's dWAR is 0.2. Not great, but also not a negative fielder. There is enough to find on the Yankees that is negative. Juan Soto isn't any part of that equation. He's a postive (if barely) fielder and a generational talent with the bat.

Juan Soto has the most multi-homer games in the MLB this season.

The Yankees' bullpen does not look good. Mark Leiter as a Yankee has not been all that impressive. He walked two batters and gave up a single, and a run in two-thirds of an inning. It is clear that the Yankees didn't do a good job improving the bullpen at the trade deadline.

I have a Perspectives article coming at 10:00 a.m. today with other, not game related, thoughts.

Next Up:

The Yankees wrap up this three-game series in Chicago tonight at 8:10 p.m.