Juan Soto brings fireworks on Fourth of July in back-and-forth Subway Series battle

Juan Soto Lights Up Fourth of July in Subway Series Clash

NEW YORK — This was the moment that Mets fans eagerly awaited, while Yankees fans dreaded. Juan Soto stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning on Friday, looking to halt the Yankees’ momentum and ignite a celebration at Citi Field me777 casino login app download apk. Earlier in the inning, Yankees outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Aaron Judge had hit back-to-back home runs, placing the Mets in a two-run deficit. However, Soto had the opportunity to erase his former team’s lead with a single swing ezjili.com log in.

“If he flips one out of here, this place will go nuts,” Ron Darling noted during the SNY broadcast. He was spot on.

Just moments later, Soto punished Marcus Stroman’s mistake—a cutter at 89 mph that was up and away—driving it into left field for a game-tying two-run homer. The crowd erupted with excitement, giving Soto a standing ovation as they witnessed an intense Game 1 of the Subway Series, even though there were still eight innings left to play.

Fireworks lit up early on this Fourth of July as Soto’s team-leading 21st home run was just the beginning. The tension had been building all afternoon as the crosstown rivals engaged in a back-and-forth battle until Jeff McNeil delivered the decisive blow: a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The injury-plagued and exhausted Mets pitching staff managed to piece together 27 outs, leading to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Yankees at Citi Field.

“I just feel good right now,” Soto expressed after going 3-for-4 with two runs scored in this exciting match. “I’m seeing the ball really well. I’m trying to take my chances. When I swing the bat, I aim to do damage every time.”

The Yankees endured their fifth straight loss, and it stung even more knowing that Soto, the one who got away, was the slugger who turned the game around in the first inning. “He’s one of the best for a reason,” Stroman remarked. “He’s extremely locked in right now. He’s all over everything, making him an incredibly challenging at-bat.”

Seven months ago, Soto left the Yankees to sign the richest contract in professional sports history with the Mets. This deal revitalized a crosstown rivalry that hadn’t seen a marquee player switch teams since the ’90s with Doc Gooden and David Cone. Soto’s choice to leave the Bronx was monumental; it was unprecedented for a player of his caliber to opt for the less historically successful New York franchise instead of cementing an enduring legacy with the Yankees, which could have secured him a spot in Monument Park.

Following his contribution in taking the Yankees to the World Series for the first time in 15 years, Soto now brings a recurring sense of pain for Yankees fans—one that will be felt every Subway Series, to be precise. His electrifying performance on Friday marks just the first of many such instances fans can anticipate.

“He had a great day,” McNeil praised Soto. “Huge home run. That’s just who he is. It’s fun to watch, and I feel like every time he comes to the plate, he’s going to do something exciting. jili77 .com”

Back in December, once the shock subsided over Soto’s contract details—set to earn a staggering $765 million over 15 years—everyone in the city was eager to know: when is the next Subway Series? Instead of Soto and Judge forming one of baseball’s most notorious duos, the two heavyweight hitters became instant rivals, bound to deliver exciting moments for years to come. Unlike Judge, who quickly established himself as a front-runner for the American League MVP, it took Soto a little longer to warm up.

As the Bronx’s newest and most despised villain, Soto faced a chorus of relentless boos during the May match when the Yankees hosted the Mets. However, instead of the anticipated hard-hitting from Soto, the noise came from the stands as he struggled, going 1-for-10 in his first three games at Yankee Stadium in his new role as a Met. A few months back, advanced metrics indicated that Soto was one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball. But if he maintained his approach and continued meeting the ball with the barrel, positive results were sure to follow jili777 free 150.

In an explosive June, Soto batted .322 with a remarkable 1.196 OPS, logging 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 26 walks over 27 games. Not only did he experience better luck and results while facing the Yankees at Citi Field on Friday, but Soto also looked unstoppable at the plate.

“It’s pretty special because every time he’s at the plate, you feel good about your chances,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated of Soto. 8k8 official website login “When we get guys on base and we can turn the lineup over, getting him to the plate as often as possible when he’s in form is a great feeling. We just want to keep the line moving and get him at-bat as many times as we can. With how effortlessly he’s doing it … he’s locked in.”

Such is the excitement expected from games like this. Subway Series matchups, packed stadiums, intense fan bases, and heated competition all combine for thrilling moments. “I’m glad we got the job done today,” Mendoza concluded.

What are your thoughts on Soto’s incredible performance during this exciting Subway Series?