Aaron Judge and Juan Soto inspire Yankees victory to snap three-game skid

In New York, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are captivating fans with their outstanding play, leading the Yankees to an 8-1 victory over the Guardians on Wednesday. This win snapped a three-game skid and secured the Yankees' top spot in the American League.

Judge and Soto, who have been pivotal all season, drove in all eight runs. Soto started the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, marking his 36th of the year, and later added a three-run double. Judge followed with two home runs, bringing his league-leading total to 47 and putting him on track for a 60-homer season.

"We're constantly pushing each other,'' Judge said.

"We're lucky to have [Soto] and we've got to keep pushing to the end.

"He's consistent and he uses the whole field. He treats every at-bat the same, with the same intensity, the same focus."

Cortes shines

Nestor Cortes delivered another impressive performance on the mound, throwing seven shutout innings and further solidifying his recent resurgence. His back-to-back strong outings came at a crucial time, as the Yankees' bullpen had been heavily used in the previous game.

The Yankees built their lead early, with Soto setting the tone against Cleveland's inexperienced pitcher Joey Cantillo. Soto's disciplined at-bats and consistent power have been key to his best season since 2020. Meanwhile, Cortes used his cutter and fastball effectively, showing he's returned to form after a tough stretch earlier in the season.

Cleveland's lone run came late in the game, but Cortes' 104-pitch effort ensured the bullpen got a much-needed break, helping the Yankees preserve their momentum as they continue their push in the standings.