The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-1 at home on Monday, securing a split of the series. They did, however, play mind games within the game, with Juan Soto and Jose Siri both taking elongated home run trots.
Soto responded to Siri’s 30-second jog around the bases with a 37-second trot in the seventh inning, as reported by SNY.
"I don't know what he was doing. For me, hot weather, tough day, try to save the hammies" – Juan Soto on his home run trot in possible response to Jose Siri
Soto adds: "From this side, we always come out, play hard, and respect our teammates and the other teams too." pic.twitter.com/L8kIVD0sVO
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 22, 2024
“I don’t know what he was doing,” Soto stated. “Just for me, you know. Hot weather, rough day; try to spare the hammies and take it easy.”
Monday’s game marked the end of a slow-trot tale between the two teams that began when Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena took his time around the bases following his home run in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game, which Tampa Bay won 6-4. Aaron Judge then took 31 seconds to round the diamond following his three-run blast later in the game, and the war began.
Siri celebrated widely on Monday, his birthday, after launching a single shot off Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon, bringing the score to 4-1 in New York’s favor. Soto’s 424-foot rocket to right in the seventh gave the home team the final laugh, as the 25-year-old kept his hamstrings far better than normal while jogging around the bases.
Soto, of course, followed that up with a three-run homer in the eighth, bringing his season total to 25 home runs and 71 RBI.
“I think it’s just part of the game,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m not sure what they’re doing. As I previously stated, I’m not sure what they have back there. But I know from this side that we always come out and play hard every day, and we try to respect our teammates and other teams as well.”
However, the petty home run antics were not the only storyline of the day.
Carlos Rodon made one of his greatest starts of the season for the Yankees.
Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.
Rodon, who had a 7.76 ERA in June and a 6.08 ERA in July heading into Monday, commented on his outstanding performance, according to YES.
Carlos Rodón breaks down his outing vs. the Rays, establishing his fastball and more. pic.twitter.com/FEJjTU3RJ2
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 22, 2024
“Yeah, [catcher Austin] Wells and I had a nice rhythm,” stated the baseball player. “Just a consistent combination of everything, going ahead and attacking the strike zone, worked well with the defense behind me, and we swung the bat extremely effectively. Our players hit some home runs, and it was a terrific victory.”
Rodon pitched seven innings of one-run ball, recording a season-high ten strikeouts against only two walks and two hits. The 31-year-old stated that he changed up his regular pitch mix, experimenting with early breaking balls and hitting fastball locations around the zone.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s just going out there and doing it,” Rodon said. “I’m just moving the fastball around and using different secondary pitches. You know, going forward in a different way and then simply completing with the slider or whatever else.”
New York is now tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the most American League wins, at 60. The team will next play a two-game Subway Series against the New York Mets in the Bronx.
