Josh Hader came into the eighth inning with runners on first and third and couldn’t find control. His slider was nowhere, and he knew it. So did the hitters. He threw three straight fastballs to Anthony Rendon, trying to get ahead in the count. Rendon laid off a 3-0 pitch, knowing a walk loads the bases. Then on 3-1, Hader grooved one, but Rendon popped it up. Hader still had no feel for the slider and stuck with fastballs. He walked Rendon anyway, and now the bases were loaded. That set up the matchup between Juan Soto and Hader.
Soto stepped in fully aware of the situation. Hader had no slider and shaky fastball command. With the count favoring him, Soto took a first-pitch fastball and fouled it off. Hader tried a slider next, but Soto didn’t even flinch. He knew it wasn’t a threat. On a 1-1 count, Soto got the fastball he expected and turned on it. He put it in play and delivered in a huge moment. The confidence and preparation showed. Soto knew what was coming, stayed patient, and waited for the pitch he could handle. Hader, with no feel for either pitch, was outmatched.