The New York Yankees jumped to a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series on Monday with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, powered by a record-breaking performance from Juan Soto and a stellar outing from Carlos Rodon. Soto, who continues to shine this postseason, launched a solo homer in the 3rd inning off Guardians starter Alex Cobb, etching his name in Major League history as the youngest player to hit a postseason home run with three different teams: the Yankees, Padres, and Nationals. MLB Network celebrated his feat, noting on X, “Juan Soto is the youngest player to hit a #Postseason home run with three different teams.”
Through five postseason games in 2024, Soto’s stats underscore his impact: he’s batting .353 with six hits, including a homer and a double, three RBIs, two runs scored, and four walks. This 3rd inning blast marks his eighth career postseason home run across 34 games, solidifying his reputation as a playoff powerhouse.
Rodon kept the Guardians in check, pitching six strong innings with nine strikeouts and allowing only three hits and one earned run. This Game 1 win positions the Yankees to take a commanding lead in the series as they head into Game 2 on Tuesday, with ace Gerrit Cole facing Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee.
The Yankees, looking to make their first World Series appearance since 2009, have been dominant against AL Central teams, winning their last six series against them. As the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Thursday, New York fans are hopeful that Soto’s record-breaking bat and a strong pitching rotation will carry them all the way to the championship.
