close
close

Yankees React to Guardians’ ‘Unconventional’ Choice to Intentionally Walk Juan Soto and Throw to Aaron Judge

Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Cleveland Guardians was ugly and unconventional at times on Tuesday night.

No moment in the game encapsulates the latter better than when Guardians was manager Stefan Vogt deliberately walked Juan Soto to pitch to Aaron Judge with the bases loaded.

With the Yankees already leading 2-0 in the second inning, New York threatened more. Of Anthony Rizzo on third and Alex Verdugo on second with one out, Vogt made the move that left fans and viewers stunned.

The judge had difficulty with the record going into Tuesday’s game. The presumptive 2024 AL MVP went just 2-for-15 with one RBI and six strikeouts for Game 2 and was already 0-for-1 – reaching an error – heading into that at-bat with the bases loaded. Still, 58 home runs and 144 RBI are hard to ignore.

But it was a choice that didn’t surprise the Yankees.

“I can’t say I was totally shocked there,” manager Aaron Boone said before pausing. ‘Sometimes you have to choose your poison. They were a bit against it in that situation (Cade) Smith This early, with two down, you need something going really well to keep yourself in the game and sometimes you have to take a shot that’s a bit unconventional.”

Vogt knocked out the starter Tanner Bibee and went to Smith, one of his best relievers, to get out of the inning. What happened was Judge hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Yankees’ lead to 3-0 earlier Austin Wells struck out to limit the damage and keep Cleveland in the game.

“They hit the ball around the ballpark and we had to stop the game,” Vogt said of the decision afterward. “In that situation you want to get the double play ball, find a way to get out of that inning and Cade did a great job of that.”

“You pick your poison there. It’s the playoffs. It’s a big, big place,” Rizzo said when asked about his reaction to pitching to Judge. “Personally I probably don’t, but you set up the doubles. Stephen Vogt, I’ve had so much respect for him as a player and what he’s done as a manager is amazing in his first year. It takes a lot of courage.” to make that move and we ended up getting the sacrifice fly.”

Tuesday marked the third time in Judge’s career that the batter in front of him was walked intentionally. The second time this happened was against the White Sox. That time, Judge made Chicago pay by homering Chad Kuhl.

“It happened earlier this year. Not really a surprise,” Judge said of the decision. “(Soto’s) been swinging the bat well lately, trying to get a double play there, trying to get them out of the inning. I’d also give him a walk at this point.”

Soto entered Game 2 going 6-for-17 with a home run and three RBI. He also singled in his first at-bat Tuesday, so Soto was the most dangerous hitter.

Still, Judge was able to put away the run in that second inning, but provided a much bigger boost when he hit his first home run of the 2024 postseason in the seventh, extending the Yankees’ lead in an eventual 6- 3 win.

The Yankees hope the homer ignites Judge’s bat as the series shifts to Cleveland, while New York — with a 2-0 series lead — looks to end the ALCS before having to return to the Bronx.