Juan Soto came up big in extra innings, and the Yankees are heading to the World Series. In the 10th inning of a 2-2 game with runners on, Soto faced off against Gattis in a tense, drawn-out at-bat. After an opening inside ball, Soto gave his signature shuffle and made it clear he was locked in. Gattis mixed in sliders and changeups, trying to fool Soto. He wasn’t sitting on off-speed, but his quick hands and bat control let him foul off pitches he wasn’t ready for. Pitch after pitch, he stayed alive, making slight nods to himself and giving Gattis looks like, “You’re not getting me.”
Gattis and his catcher Naylor tried to double up on the changeups, but Soto spoiled both. Then they went back to the slider. Still nothing. Finally, they tried to sneak a fastball by him, aiming high to change his eye level. But it didn’t get high enough. Soto turned on it and launched it out. He posed. He stared. Then he exploded around the bases as the Yankees bench erupted. The fans went nuts, and Cleveland fans were left stunned and silent. The Yankees walk it off and punch their ticket to the World Series.