New York Yankees 4-1 Chicago White Sox
CHICAGO — Juan Soto demonstrated his power by hitting three home runs in a single game, achieving a career milestone. Meanwhile, Nestor Cortes excelled on the mound, pitching seven scoreless innings. These outstanding performances led the New York Yankees to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, solidifying their sole lead in the AL East division.
Soto displayed his power in the third inning, smashing a two-run home run off starter Jonathan Cannon (2-6) over the left field fence. He wasn’t done yet; in the fifth inning, he hit a solo home run to the opposite field to start the inning. The four-time All-Star kept up his offensive momentum in the seventh, hitting his 33rd home run of the season with a drive to right field off left-handed reliever Fraser Ellard, extending the Yankees’ lead to 4-0.
Yankees Hold Off White Sox, Claim Sole Possession of AL East
Juan Soto‘s quest for history came up just short. With a chance to tie the major league record for home runs in a single game, Soto drew a walk after swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone on a full count in the ninth inning.
Nestor Cortes bounced back from a tough outing against the Angels with a dominant performance, holding the White Sox scoreless for seven innings. He allowed only three hits and struck out nine batters, marking his best strikeout performance of the season.
Luis Robert Jr. broke up the Yankees’ shutout bid with an RBI single off Mark Leiter Jr. in the eighth inning. However, Jake Cousins entered the game with the bases loaded and secured his first career save by retiring the side.
With this victory, the Yankees reclaimed sole possession of the AL East lead, pulling half a game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, who suffered a loss to the Washington Nationals.
Yankees Benefit from White Sox Slump
Jonathan Cannon struggled on the mound for the White Sox, giving up five hits and three walks while managing only four strikeouts in his 4 2/3 innings of work.
This performance followed a 12-2 victory for the White Sox, where they racked up 18 hits. However, their offensive consistency has been lacking, as shown by their record of 31 losses in their last 36 games.
Aaron Judge continued his pursuit of the 300 home run milestone, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and drawing two walks.
Manager Aaron Boone announced before the game that infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is likely to be placed on the injured list due to a left elbow injury sustained during Monday’s game. The team is awaiting further diagnostic tests to determine the severity of the injury and plans to make a final decision by Wednesday.
The Yankees Roster
Up Next
The Yankees will face Chicago White Sox right-hander Davis Martin in the series finale on Wednesday night. Martin has made two starts in the big leagues this season, posting a 3.65 ERA. The Yankees have not yet announced their starting pitcher for the game.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Following the euphoria over Juan Soto’s Exceptional 3-Homer performance, did you notice that we would have lost Game 2 — and the series! — to potentially THE WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL HISTORY by a score of 1-0, if it weren’t for Juan Soto.
That Horrific thought should give Yankee fans reason for pause, if not gasping.
After all, can you imagine anyone else on our roster performing to that level in front of Aaron Judge?
I’m also sanguine about Nestor’s performance, since his excellent performance came against the worst team in baseball.
Like all Yankee fans, I hope Nestor has rediscovered his form, but let’s see it against an actual major-league lineup, like the Orioles, before we get excited.
It should be noted, however, that Austin Wells had an Exceptional AB later in the game with the bases loaded. Although he missed getting a Big Hit by an inch or two, Wells hit a ROCKET “on the screws” that easily could have been a 2 or 3 run double, if I the hadn’t been snared by a White Sox player.
FYI: the expression “on the screws” is actually a malapropism when used in baseball, since there aren’t any screws in a bat or ball & you don’t hit a screw. The expression was (past tense) appropriate in Golf because old-time wooden drivers & other “woods” had metal or plastic inserts in their faces that were “screwed” into the wooden club head; hence, a great drive that was hit in the middle of the club face was hit “on the screws.” (Actually, between the screws, to be precise.)
I’ve noted the above & used that expression earlier in my comment because so many Baseball people still insist on saying a player “hit it on the screws.” No, he didn’t, unless the batter was using a Driver or 3-wood.