And right on cue, the crowd witnessed the Soto shuffle, the hallmark of Juan Soto’s composed intensity. As the first pitch came in for a ball, the tension thickened. Soto fouled off four straight pitches, but if you know Soto, you know that giving in is not part of his vocabulary. He stared down each offering, waiting for his moment.
What happened next will live in Yankees lore for years to come. A 95 mph fastball came flying in from Hunter Gaddis, but it wasn’t just any fastball—it was the mistake Soto had been waiting for. The pitch hung high, right in his wheelhouse, and with one crack of the bat, Soto launched a three-run home run that sent the ball soaring over the centerfield wall. Yankees fans erupted. The Guardians’ fans went silent. And just like that, the Yankees were headed to their first World Series since 2009, securing a 5-2 victory.
For Soto, it was another day at the office. For Yankees fans, it was a moment to cherish forever. And for Juan Soto Sr., it was pure affirmation of what he had always known—his son thrives in the clutch. "That's what he does," the elder Soto said. "He performs under pressure. And I was completely confident. I knew something was going to happen in that at-bat."
A Historic Moment for the Yankees
The magnitude of Soto’s blast is difficult to overstate. His three-run homer was only the second extra-inning home run to clinch a postseason series in Yankees history, placing him alongside the great Aaron Boone, whose legendary walk-off homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS still gives Red Sox fans nightmares. And speaking of legacies, Soto’s postseason heroics are stacking up—his 10th career playoff homer ties him for second-most in major league history for players before their 26th birthday.
Fittingly, Soto turns 26 on the day Game 1 of the World Series kicks off. It’s as if destiny has been setting the stage for him all along.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman summed up what the entire stadium was feeling after Soto’s blast. "I remember just going, 'Oh my God.' Did the prayer sign," Cashman said. But he knew the job wasn’t done yet. “We had to somehow put them down in the bottom of the inning because these guys don't go easy."
Securing the Win
Closer Luke Weaver made sure of that. After giving up a single, he quickly rebounded, tossing a clean inning and wiping away the memory of his blown save in Game 3. The final out sealed the win, sending the Yankees to the Fall Classic.
This game wasn’t just a one-man show, though. Earlier in the night, the Yankees found themselves down 2-0, thanks to runs in the second and fifth innings off Yankees starter Carlos Rodon. It seemed like Cleveland had control of the game, especially with their pitcher, Tanner Bibee, giving the Guardians exactly what they needed: 5⅔ scoreless innings. That is, until Giancarlo Stanton stepped to the plate.
With Gleyber Torres on third and two outs in the sixth inning, Stanton had already struck out twice against Bibee. He quickly fell behind 0-2, and it looked like the Guardians’ right-hander had his number. But Stanton stayed patient, watching three pitches sail by that weren’t quite good enough for him to chase. Then came Bibee’s mistake—a slider hung right over the plate. Stanton did what Stanton does best—he obliterated the ball, sending it 446 feet into the night for a game-tying home run. It was a staggering 117.5 mph off the bat, and it marked Stanton’s third straight game with a home run, each coming with two strikes.
That blast was Stanton’s 16th postseason home run in just 36 games, moving him past Yankees legends Aaron Judge and Babe Ruth on the all-time list. “It’s a special moment for me,” Stanton said after the game. “But this ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.”
Eyes on the World Series
As Stanton spoke, the Yankees' celebration was already underway. Players, coaches, family members, and front office staff filled the field, reveling in the moment. The fans? They were ecstatic. They packed the seats behind the Yankees dugout, chanting players’ names, celebrating their heroes. And through it all, there was a chant that could be heard clearly: “Re-sign Soto! Re-sign Soto!”
That’s been the elephant in the room all season long—Juan Soto’s impending free agency. The Yankees made a big gamble last December, trading a haul of talented players for him. It was a high-stakes move after an underwhelming 82-80 season where the Yankees missed the playoffs entirely. But Cashman and the Yankees’ front office believed in Soto. They saw him as the perfect complement to Aaron Judge and a proven postseason performer who could handle the bright lights of New York City. Now, that gamble looks like a stroke of genius.
“We need him to stay,” Stanton said emphatically. “He’s going to stay. We need to bring it home, and then we’ll bring him home also.”
Cashman echoed those sentiments. "That was the whole purpose of going all-in. We gave up a lot, and it was a one-year deal for a lot of money. It was a big chess move, no doubt about it, designed to increase our chances. And it did."
Soto's Battle Mentality
Soto’s approach to every at-bat, whether it’s spring training or October, is what makes him a special player. Every pitch is a battle, and Soto uses everything in his arsenal—his shuffle, his stare-downs, his pure determination—to intimidate opposing pitchers. That mental edge was on full display in the 10th inning of Game 5, and when Soto sent that ball flying over the fence, the Yankees’ dugout exploded. Players rushed out onto the field in celebration as Soto, halfway down the first-base line, turned and pounded his chest twice with both hands. He had done it again.
For Juan Soto Sr., watching from the stands, there was never a doubt. "I was confident," he said afterward. "He was waiting for his pitch because he wasn't going to go with the pitcher's pitch. And like he told me, if he makes a mistake or if he repeats it two times, it's gone. And that's how it went."
Juan Soto didn’t just send the Yankees to the World Series—he sent a message. When the stakes are highest, when the pressure is on, Soto is the guy you want at the plate.
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