Soto And Judge: It’s Fun To Watch

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge putting on a show in the Bronx - Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

BRONX, NY — Juan Soto needs Aaron Judge? Or does Judge need Soto? Both endorse each other and their continued home run and RBI production in the NY Yankees lineup is leading to epic numbers with important wins. Both continued to be productive Wednesday evening as the Yankees pounded the Cleveland Guardians 8-1 in the Bronx.

Judge homered twice and drove in three runs. Soto, continued to rival his teammate for AL MVP honors and hit a career-high 36th home run with five RBI. Both homered in the same game a second consecutive night and 11th time this season.

Both have grabbed the attention of the opposing managers, basically meaning they are difficult to pitch around and hard to get out. “They’re not missing pitches right now,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Voght.

And this has been a repetitive theme around the league. Pitch to Judge and there is that risk of throwing another home run ball and with his 46th and 47th home runs he is on pace for 60, possibly tying or breaking the 62 AL season record achieved in 2022. Judge is also the first player in MLB history to bat .375 or higher and hit 43 or more home runs over a 98-game span in a single season.

“I think that he just kind of keeps getting a little bit better all the time,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think that’s what greatness is. “You’re never kind of satisfied with who you are. Obviously since he’s been in the league, he’s pretty much been great from jump, but I think the way he controls the strike zone now is to another level and then his power is different than just about anyone.”

And it has come to expect Judge to hit the home run. It has also come to the point of expecting Soto to hit a home run or get on base with a walk or extra base hit. They are the equivalent of a Yankees lineup in the past, reminiscent of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, two enshrined in baseball annals as fearsome home run hitters.

But these are the Yankees of 2024, different in many ways. Because when Judge and Soto hit the home run ball the Yankees usually win. Though Tuesday evening when both hit home runs the Yankees lost in extra innings to the Guardians in what became a battle of the bullpens.

Regardless, the Yankees need more than Judge and Soto to play baseball deep in October The rest of their lineup struggles, though Wednesday night it was starter Nestor Cortes throwing seven scoreless innings and he was “Nasty Nestor” again with economical pitching and good command.

“It’s fun,” said Soto about him and Judge hitting at their record pace and at the same time with the home run ball. “It’s great to see. It’s great to take the lead early and follow it up by one of the greatest hitters in the game.”

Yes, they compliment each other. And they greet each other by the dugout after their home runs with teammates in pursuit. It’s come to the point that Yankees fans in the Bronx expect Soto and Judge to hit back-to-back home runs.

Soto is the first Yankees player in the expansion era since 1961 to have a home run and eight straight hits. The last player with that accomplishment league wide, Joey Votto in July 2021 who announced his retirement from the game Wednesday afternoon.

Judge admires how Soto has command of his at-bats. Soto tied a season high with his five RBI. His home run was followed with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning, a check swing that went down the left field line that caught the attention of Judge.

“That’s what makes him so special,” Judge said. “He can also on a 3-2 count shoot a ball down the left field line. It’s fun to watch.”

More importantly, the Yankees reclaimed a share of first place from the Orioles in their season-long battle for the AL East division title. Judge and Soto are striving for that division crown and seeking the Yankees first World Series championship since 2009.

They work as a unit and at this rate there is every reason why they need each other.

“Two guys that are great, back to back,” Boone said. “They obviously root for one another. I think they really appreciate each other, one right-handed, one left-handed. They are different in how they do it, and I think they like doing what they did tonight.”

And who can’t like what they did Wednesday night?

Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and contributor to Latinosports.com — X (Twitter): @Ring786 Facebook.com.Rich Mancuso

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