Juan Soto hit two of the Yankees’ five home runs on Monday, leading New York to a 9-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays and splitting the four-game series.
Soto, who was acquired in a trade last December, recorded his fourth multi-homer game of the season and 21st of his career. His solo homer in the seventh inning went into the third level of right field, and his three-run homer in the eighth took his season total to 25.
The 25-year-old’s 24th home run sailed into a suite above the second deck in right field, and he jogged 37.7 seconds after hitting the 424-foot drive.
“I’m just trying to make sure it was a fair ball,” Soto informed the crowd. “I was literally straining with everything I could to stay fair. It was fun to witness, and I definitely grabbed ahold of it.” Soto had a terrific series, hitting 11 for 18, including a four-hit game on Friday.
DJ LeMahieu, Austin Wells, and Anthony Volpe all homered for the Yankees, who tied their season high of five for the second time this year.
Carlos Rodón (10-7) earned his first victory since June 10 by throwing seven innings, allowing one run and two hits while striking out ten.
“Just a steady mix of everything, getting ahead, attacking the strike zone,” Rodón went on.
LeMahieu snapped a 0-for-18 slump with his first home run in ten months, and Rodón, who had battled previously, delivered a dominant performance to cap off a difficult stretch.
The left-handed pitcher recorded his 25th game with double-digit strikeouts, the first since September 17. He averaged 95.5 mph on his fastballs, while also throwing 20 sliders, 16 curveballs, and 10 changeups.
“That’s the best we’ve seen him pitch against us,” said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash. “When he’s on, we know how talented he is, and unfortunately, we saw it today.” Rodón held Tampa Bay hitless until Jose Siri’s home run in the fifth inning.
Siri made a leisurely 30.0-second jog around the bases, signaling with his palm to his ear and again at home plate while spectators booed and Aaron Judge watched.
“He hit that ball well out to right,” Rodón said after Siri’s home run. “He can run as fast or slow as he wants.” Siri also homered in the Rays’ 6-4 victory on Sunday.
“That’s just part of the game,” Siri explained through a translation. “I was having fun with my teammates in the dugout, and that’s what happened.”
Wells and Volpe blasted consecutive home missiles in the second inning off Zack Littell (3-7) for the Yankees, who had 15 hits, the third most this season.
“Throughout the lineup today, everyone contributed with quality at-bats,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Oswaldo Cabrera added a two-run single in the fourth stanza, and LeMahieu homered the following inning.
Wells drove a 1-1 slider to right field for a 1-0 lead, and Volpe followed with a home run to left field, his first since May 16. This was the third occasion this season that the Yankees hit consecutive homers.
LeMahieu crushed a 0-1 pitch into the first row of left field seats, just past Randy Arozarena’s catch attempt. Wells celebrated by raising his arms, as teammates in the bench congratulated LeMahieu.
