As free agency looms, Juan Soto powers Yankees to World Series

CLEVELAND — The man who knows Juan Soto best didn’t have a doubt.

Soto stood in the batter’s box at Progressive Field. Two on, two out, tie game, 10th inning, another classic between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians brewing in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday. Another night of thrills and drama with the Yankees one win from their first World Series appearance in 15 years. Another opportunity for Soto to deliver under pressure. And Juan Soto Sr. knew — he just knew — his son would come through.

The trademark Soto shuffle after taking the first pitch for a ball. The stare-downs after fouling off four straight pitches. His refusal to concede. The elder Soto sensed his son was in his element.

“That’s what he does: He performs in the clutch,” he said in Spanish. “He works under pressure. And I was completely confident. I knew something was going to happen in that at-bat.”

What happened was a moment that will live on Yankees highlight reels forever: a three-run homer on the first fastball Soto saw from  Hunter Gaddis. It was a 95 mph, letter-high offering that Soto blasted over the wall in center field that ultimately sent the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 2009 in a 5-2 win. They await the winner between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

“It’s a great feeling, to hit that homer and get the lead for the team,” Soto said. “And coming through big time.”

Soto’s blast was the second extra-inning home run to clinch a postseason series in Yankees history, joining manager Aaron Boone’s home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. It was Soto’s 10th career postseason home run, tied for the second most in major league history for a player before his 26th birthday. Soto will turn 26 on Friday — on the day of Game 1 of the World Series.

“I remember just going, ‘Oh my God,'” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “Did the prayer sign. And then knew that we had to somehow put them down in the bottom of the inning, because these guys don’t go easy.”

Luke Weaver completed that job, working around a single to toss a clean inning and rebound from his blown save in Game 3. Saturday’s save sealed a game that began with the Guardians taking a 2-0 lead with runs in the second and fifth inning off Yankees starter Carlos Rodon.

That set the stage for the Yankees’ other October-moment-seizing star. Giancarlo Stanton stepped to the plate with Gleyber Torres on third base and two outs in the sixth inning. On the mound stood Tanner Bibee, who had, to that point, given the Guardians exactly what they needed: 5⅔ scoreless innings. He had struck out Stanton in their first two clashes. A third appeared imminent when Stanton fell behind 0-2, but Bibee followed with three straight pitches that weren’t enticing enough for Stanton to chase.

So Stanton waited. Finally, he got a slider that Bibee hung over the plate and pounced, demolishing the baseball at 117.5 mph off the bat and sending it 446 feet away for a game-tying home run. It was the 34-year-old Stanton’s third straight game with a home run, and all came with two strikes. It was his 16th home run in 36 career postseason games, passing Aaron Judge and Babe Ruth for third most in Yankees history.

“It’s a special moment for me,” said Stanton, who was named ALCS MVP. “It’s a special time. But this ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.”

Stanton spoke on the field as his teammates celebrated with coaches, front office personnel, support staff and family. Yankees fans filled the sections of seats behind their dugout. They cheered when players ran off. They chanted players’ names. Occasionally, they chanted, “Re-sign Soto!”

Soto’s impending free agency has hung in the background since the Yankees traded a haul of talented players for him in December. They believed the risk, after a disappointing 82-80 season without a playoff appearance, was worth the chance. He was the ideal complement to Judge and a proven postseason performer they believed would thrive while playing in New York City. They were right.

“We need him to stay,” Stanton said. “He’s going to stay. We need to bring it home, and then we’ll bring him home also.”

As Cashman added, “That was the whole purpose of going all-in. We gave up a lot, and it was a one-year deal for a lot of money. And so it was a big chess move, no doubt about it, that was designed to increase our chances. And it did.”

Those chances increased Saturday because Soto didn’t stray from the approach he takes into every at-bat, whether during spring training in February or on the biggest stage in October. Every plate appearance is a one-on-one battle, an opportunity to intimidate the pitcher with each shuffle, each stare-down, each healthy hack.

Soto won another battle in the 10th inning Saturday, against one of the best relievers in baseball. When he did, the Yankees’ dugout erupted, players spilling out onto the field once the ball landed. Soto stopped halfway down the first-base line, turned to his team and pounded his chest twice with both hands. The ballpark, besides the pockets of Yankees fans, went silent.

“I’ve wanted it since day one,” said Soto, who won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals. “I’ve said it since spring training. Give me every hard moment. Give me every tough [at-bat]. I’m going to step up to the plate and try to do my best.”

His father watched from the stands. There was never a doubt in his mind.

“I was confident,” the elder Soto said. “He was waiting for his pitch because he wasn’t going to go with the pitcher’s pitch. And like he told me, if he makes a mistake or if he repeats it two times, it’s gone. And that’s how it went.”