WASHINGTON D.C. — This has not been billed as a crucial series for the Yankees but the Washington Nationals are young and hungry, not fighting for the postseason. The Yankees down the stretch are in a battle with the Orioles for first place in the Al East.
And down here where politics and policies are played the Nationals had a homecoming for the Yankees’ Juan Soto, even talking in his free agent walk year about a reunion and vying for a return with a record breaking contract. The Nationals will have plenty of money off the books with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and could be players for his return.
Of course Soto also hears chants at Nationals Park, a difference maker. But the Yankees and Mets are more likely to get in a bidding war for Soto, though the Nationals are not downplaying any rumors about being in that process.
Juan Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Washington Nationals, won the WS the following year, and was traded to San Diego in the summer of 2022 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
In the meantime, Aaron Judge did not make a difference and neither did Soto Tuesday evening, the Nationals took advantage of four Yankees errors and Gerrit Cole did not have his fastball giving up two home runs. The Yankees did not resemble a team fighting for a division title in their 4-2 loss, the rubber game of this three-game series to be played Wednesday night.
Soto heard the chants when he came to bat in the eighth inning and Jacob Barnes induced a double-play ball with runners on first and second, but the play was botched and result was a bases loaded situation for Judge, “MVP” chants loud and clear from many of 34,000 Yankees fans who made the trip.
Yankees’ All-Star slugger Aaron Judge recorded one hit in Tuesday’s loss to the Nationals – Image Credit: Cruz Soto/Latino Sports
Judge, though with a MLB leading 51 home runs and the bases loaded with no outs, the Yankees needing four runs, would ground into a double-play as a run scored. Not a Yankees night for Soto or Judge.
“We had a couple of chances there at the end, a couple of swings to maybe win it and sneak that one out,” Judge said. “Couldn’t come away with it.”
Yet the Yankees with Soto and Judge have been accustomed to seeing one or the other coming up with the timely run producing situation, whether it be the home run ball or extra base hit.
Aaron Judge in the Yankees’ dugout during Tuesday’s matchup in Washington D.C. – Image Credit: Cruz Soto/Latino Sports
“We didn’t play our best tonight,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Tough one. We did not play clean baseball tonight defensively, And on a night when we’re not scoring a ton of runs, we’ve got to be cleaner than that.”
Solely not clean at the plate for Soto and Judge, combined 1-for-8 and two strikeouts. Not clean for Cole giving up back-to-back solo home runs to Andres Chaparro and Jose Tena in the fourth inning. And when Cole, the Yankees ace does not have his best fastball, Soto and Judge are always expected to get the Yankees to play catch up.
Gerrit Cole’s final line on Tuesday night: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, and 2 HR allowed – Image Credit: Cruz Soto/Latino Sports
But not this night because Nationals starter Patrick Corbin was better than Cole, retiring 15-of 17 Yankees after Judge got him with a double in the first inning. He struck out six in six scoreless innings and the Yankees entered that eighth inning with three hits before the bases loaded situation.
And down the stretch the Yankees can’t commit four errors, first since August 10, 2021, at Kansas City. They did not play clean baseball with throwing and fielding miscues.
Regardless these are the Yankees with Soto and Judge. And with Giancarlo Stanton not having an impact, who was on a home run tear last week before the Yankees took the train ride for this brief three-game road trip to the nation’s capital.
Nationals known menace Giancarlo Stanton steps into the batter’s box on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital – Image Credit: Cruz Soto/Latino Sports
Soto and Judge know what awaits them Wednesday night. They said forget about this one and go for the series win, as a team the Yankees have won four-of their last five. Remember also, Soto is not bothered with a possible return to the Nationals who helped them win a World Series championship in 2019.
Yet the Nationals will have room to vy for Soto if they desire, $25 million off the books with Corbin’s contract. One game again separates the Yankees from the Orioles. In this division battle and for now that is the emphasis for Soto, Judge, and the Yankees.
Rich Mancuso is senior writer and contributor for Latinosports.com – X (Twitter) @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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Julio Pabon
August 28, 2024 at 7:45 am
Great article with details about Soto’s return to Wash. DC.