TORONTO, ON – In a tense, back-and-forth thriller, Juan Soto delivered the kind of signature postseason moment the Yankees acquired him for, launching a go-ahead, three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to power New York to a crucial 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

The win silences a raucous Rogers Centre crowd and, more importantly, evens the best-of-five series at 1-1 as it shifts back to the Bronx.

For much of the night, it appeared the Blue Jays were poised to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. They jumped out in front in the third inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Yankees starter Nestor Cortes, sending a solo shot into the left-field seats. Toronto added another run in the fifth on an RBI single from Bo Bichette.

The Yankees’ offense, which was shut down in Game 1, struggled to solve Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman, who kept them off-balance with his signature splitter. The Yankees finally broke through in the seventh, scraping across a run on an Anthony Volpe sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 2-1.

That set the stage for the eighth inning. After a leadoff walk and a single chased Gausman from the game, the Blue Jays turned to their high-leverage reliever, Jordan Romano. With two runners on and one out, Juan Soto stepped to the plate. After working the count full, Soto fouled off two tough pitches before getting a slider over the middle of the plate, which he blasted deep into the right-field bullpen, stunning the home crowd and giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

The Yankees’ bullpen was masterful, with Clay Holmes pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to secure the save and the victory.

“That’s why he’s here. That’s Juan Soto,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone after the game. “He lives for that moment. In the biggest spot, against one of the best closers in the game, he came through. A massive swing for us.”
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The series now becomes a best-of-three, with the pivotal Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

 

Game 2 Summary:

 

• Final Score: Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3
• Series: Tied 1-1
• Winning Pitcher: Jonathan Loáisiga
• Losing Pitcher: Kevin Gausman
• Save: Clay Holmes
• Key Performers:
  • NYY: Juan Soto (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI)
  • TOR: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1-for-4, HR, RBI)
• Next Game: ALDS Game 3, Wednesday, October 8 at Yankee Stadium.