NEW YORK — Aaron Judge hit two home runs and scored three runs, and Juan Soto hit a two-run home run in the first inning and scored five runs to help the New York Yankees to an 8-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night.
Judge hit a two-run homer in the third inning and added a solo home run in the seventh inning, bringing his home run total to a major league-leading 47. Judge has hit six home runs in his last nine games, 12 in his last 23 games, and is on pace to hit 60 home runs.
Judge had his fourth multi-home run game this season and it was the 38th multi-home run game of the slugger’s career.
Soto hit his career-best 36th home run on rookie Joey Cantillo’s sixth pitch, a 2-2 offering he sent to the net over center field at Monument Park, eclipsing his career high set last season with San Diego.
Soto hit his eighth home run in nine games, a streak that began with his three-home run game last week in Chicago against the White Sox.
Judge and Soto hit a home run in the same game for the second consecutive time and the 11th time overall. The Yankees improved their record to 9-2 this season when the powerful duo has hit a home run in the same game.
Soto set a season record for the second time with five RBI and followed his home run with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning.
Soto reached first base three times and walked Judge’s two-run shot in the third inning.
Nestor Cortes (7-10) pitched seven four-hit innings to give New York some much-needed length after the Yankees used all of their relievers on Tuesday. The left-hander won two consecutive starts for the first time since May 17 and 22.
In his fourth career start, Cantillo (0-3) allowed seven runs and six hits in four innings. He was one strike away from getting out of the fourth inning before Soto hit a double.
Rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a home run in the eighth inning against Tim Mazya as Cleveland lost for the 11th time in 17 games, pulling Steven Kwan and Jose Ramírez after striking out in the seventh inning.
TRAINING ROOM
Yankees: RHP Luis Gil (lower back strain) was placed on the injured list after leaving the game in the fourth inning Tuesday. … RHP Clarke Schmidt (right lat strain), out since May 27, will begin rehab for Double-A Somerset on Friday. … 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (sprained left elbow) took batting practice on the field for the first time since being placed on the injured list a week ago. … 1B Anthony Rizzo (fractured right forearm) took batting practice on the field.
Next
New York RHP Gerrit Cole (4-2, 4.15 ERA) makes his first attempt to become the fourth active pitcher to reach 150 career wins when he faces Cleveland RHP Gavin Williams (2-5, 5.02) on Thursday afternoon.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
