Juan Soto Powers New York Yankees to 5-2 Victory Over Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 1

New York Yankees to 5-2 Victory Over Cleveland Guardians

In a thrilling start to the American League Championship Series (ALCS), the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 on Monday night, powered by Juan Soto's first postseason home run and a stellar performance from pitcher Carlos Rodón.

Playing before a lively crowd of 47,264 at Yankee Stadium, Soto ignited the Yankees' offense in the third inning with a solo home run off Guardians pitcher Alex Cobb, marking a pivotal moment in the game. This hit sparked a three-run rally, as Cobb, making his first postseason start since 2013, struggled to find his rhythm. After Soto's homer, he walked star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Volpe, leading to his removal from the game.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt turned to rookie reliever Joey Cantillo, who faced challenges with his control. Cantillo set a postseason record with four wild pitches, two of which allowed Yankees players to score, pushing New York ahead 3-0. Soto emphasized the team effort, saying, “It’s not about one guy; it’s about the whole lineup.”

On the mound, Rodón rebounded impressively from a rough outing in the AL Division Series, delivering a dominant performance with nine strikeouts over six innings. He retired 11 consecutive Guardians batters at one point, allowing just one run—a solo homer by Brayan Rocchio in the sixth. Rodón reflected on his composure, crediting fellow pitcher Gerrit Cole’s previous game for his mental preparation.

Stanton added to the Yankees' lead in the seventh with a solo shot to left, bringing the score to 5-1. The Guardians made a late push in the eighth, scoring on a grounder from Steven Kwan, narrowing the gap to 5-2. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone called upon closer Luke Weaver, who effectively ended the threat by striking out pinch hitter Will Brennan and getting star third baseman José Ramírez to ground out.

Weaver secured his fourth save of the postseason, striking out three batters in the ninth after allowing a walk, sealing the Yankees' victory.

Looking ahead, Game 2 of the ALCS is set for Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, with the Guardians sending ace Tanner Bibee to the mound against Yankees star Gerrit Cole. Historically, winning Game 1 has been advantageous, with teams going on to win the series 23 out of 38 times since the ALCS adopted a best-of-seven format.

Juan Soto Powers New York Yankees to 5-2 Victory Over Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 1