In Wednesday’s 8-1 win over the Guardians, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto continued to shine, delivering the offensive firepower that Nestor Cortes capitalized on, building on his previous dominant performance against the White Sox with another stellar outing against Cleveland.
Nestor Cortes made history by becoming the first Yankee since Ron Guidry in 1977 to throw seven shutout innings without allowing a walk in consecutive starts. Upon learning of this achievement, the Yankees pitcher expressed his honor at being mentioned alongside such a legendary figure.
“Good company,’’ he said after the game.
The left-hander’s extended performance was especially valuable given the bullpen’s exhaustion following Tuesday’s 12-inning loss. Nestor Cortes was nearly flawless, retiring the first 14 batters he faced before allowing a base runner in the fifth inning.
Cleveland managed to score only once when Noel hit a home run off reliever Tim Mayza in the eighth inning. Nestor Cortes’ 104-pitch outing was critical, given that the bullpen had been heavily utilized the previous night, having to cover nine innings after Luis Gil’s early exit in the fourth.
Nestor Cortes highlighted his improved command of the cutter and four-seam fastball, which played a key role in his success against both Cleveland and Chicago. This marked a significant turnaround for Nestor Cortes, who had struggled with a 9.26 ERA over his previous five starts.
Reflecting on his recent resurgence, Nestor Cortes stressed the importance of constant adaptation and reinvention for starting pitchers as the season progresses.
“As a starting pitcher, throughout the whole year, you have to tweak and almost reinvent yourself,’’ the elated pitcher told.
Nestor Cortes’ history vs. Judge-Soto heroics
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto led the Yankees’ offense on Wednesday, driving in all eight runs in a victory that snapped a three-game losing streak and propelled the team to the top of the American League standings.
Soto set the tone early, launching a two-run homer in the first inning, his 36th of the season, marking a career-high. Judge followed in the third inning with a two-run shot of his own, then added a solo homer in the seventh, bringing his league-leading total to 47 home runs.
Soto’s home run was his eighth consecutive hit that resulted in a long ball. However, he mixed it up in the fourth inning, delivering a three-run double that ended his home run streak but significantly boosted the Yankees‘ lead.
The Yankees’ offensive surge began against Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo, a left-hander making just his fourth career start, stepping in for the injured Alex Cobb. Soto’s 427-foot homer, following Gleyber Torres‘ leadoff single, gave the Yankees an early two-run cushion in the first inning.
The third inning saw more damage as Soto drew a one-out walk, setting the stage for Judge’s blast to right-center, extending the Yankees’ lead to 4-0.
Soto continued to contribute in the fourth inning, playing a pivotal role in another two-out rally that helped the Yankees pull further ahead.
In the pivotal fourth inning, the Yankees capitalized on a key moment when Alex Verdugo and Oswald Peraza drew walks, followed by Gleyber Torres legging out an infield single with two outs. The Guardians opted not to challenge the close play at first base, a decision that quickly backfired.
Soto seized the opportunity, lining a double down the left field line to clear the bases. Judge, impressed by Soto’s clutch performance, praised his teammate’s consistency and disciplined approach at the plate. Judge noted Soto’s ability to use the entire field effectively while maintaining the same intensity and focus in every at-bat.
“He’s consistent and he uses the whole field,’’ the Yankees captain said about his teammate. “He treats every at-bat the same, with the same intensity, the same focus.”
Discussing his career-high home run total, Soto explained that it wasn’t a specific goal for the season. Instead, he focused on “grinding, trying to find path again” during the offseason, an effort that has clearly paid dividends. This season stands out as Soto’s best since the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
Judge highlighted the mutual motivation between himself and Soto, expressing how much he values having Soto as a teammate. He emphasized the need to keep up their momentum as the season progresses.
“We’re constantly pushing each other,’’ the Yankees captain said. “We’re lucky to have [Soto] and we’ve got to keep pushing to the end.”
The powerful partnership between Judge and Soto has been a driving force behind the Yankees’ success, making the team’s aspirations increasingly achievable.
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