Juan Soto sends the Yankees to the World Series for the first time in 15 years
The New York Yankees are going to the World Series for the first time since Obama’s first year in office.
Juan Soto hit a three-run home run Saturday to return the American League pennant to the Bronx for the first time since 2009. The 25-year-old worked seven pitches against Cleveland Guardians forward Hunter Gaddis, and struck out twice. , smashed a high fastball into deep pitch. He watched it with a fixed face as it left his bat, just seeing how far it would go.
It then fell over the center field fence to give the Yankees a 5-2 victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, and a 4-1 series win.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Yankees pitcher Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game 5 of the ALCS of the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. (Photos by David Dermer-Imagn)
The crowd in Cleveland was stunned, one quarter of Yankees fans. Those traveling Yankees fans kept the Progressive Field crowd loud and boisterous long after the final game, with chants of “Let’s go Yankees!” that echoed across the quiet town, far from Ohio’s Lake Erie.
For Cleveland, it’s a sad loss and a sad continuation of October’s downward spiral.
Cleveland now has a four-season losing streak to the Yankees dating back to 2017, Aaron Judge’s season. That year, Cleveland was coming off of its own American League pennant, a 102-win season and the longest winning streak in American League history. With a 2-0 lead, the wild card Yankees won three in a row, and Cleveland hasn’t been the same team since. The Yankees also beat Cleveland in the 2020 wild card series, the 2022 divisional series, and have now denied the city a World Series appearance.
EMMANUEL CLASE’S NEAR GUARDS SHOW THE SPOTS AFTER THE YANKEES’ ALCS ALCS
Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2024 in Cleveland, -Ohio. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
For the Yankees, the win marks an important step in their quest for their 28th championship.
Soto, the hero of the night, was traded in the offseason with one year left on his contract. Soto proved to be a turning point for the Yankees this year hitting alongside Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. But the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman knew they had to win it this year to make the trade worth it.
Soto could command the richest contract in MLB history this offseason. He could have ordered this type of contract before and before he signed at home on Saturday. Now, the price can be even higher.
Now Soto and the Yankees will await the winner of the National League Championship series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Guardians during Game 5 of the ALCS of the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Scott Galvin-Imagn (Photos by SScott Galvin-Imagn)
The Dodgers lead the series 3-2, and can punch their ticket to their 12th World Series against the Yankees in their shared history with one more win at home. The Mets will need to win two straight on the road to face their first Subway Series opponent since 2000.
No matter who the Yankees play, the expectations will be the same. But they will hope that this time, they live up to the expectations of the Yankee brand for the first time in a very long time.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on Xand register at Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
