The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday to advance to the World Series for the 41st time in franchise history.

New York will now be searching for its 28th World Series victory in franchise history despite not making the final series of the year since the 2009 season, which ended with a 4-2 series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees secured the victory over the Guardians due to a clutch home run by outfielder Juan Soto, who was acquired by the team in a December trade with the San Diego Padres and hit a three-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead.

Soto said after the game that his focus was on watching the pitching and waiting for the best opportunity on a poorly thrown ball. This worked out well for the eight-year veteran, as he finally got a good look late into the at-bat.

“I’m just telling myself, ‘I’m all over every pitch, I’m all over every pitch,'” Soto said, per ESPN. “So be ready. Be ready. He’s going to make the mistake. He did. And I did get it.”

Team Captain Aaron Jude raved about Soto’s impact on the team since his arrival and said the team has been successful because it has combined “good people and good players.”

“When you go out and get a guy like Juan Soto, you put him in this lineup with other great guys we have … good things are going to happen,” Jude explained, per MLB.com.

Although the Yankees have yet to find out who they will be playing in the season’s final series, they could receive an answer as early as Sunday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets face off in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Regardless of which team makes it out of the National League, the Yankees will face the winner in the World Series, with the first game scheduled for October 25.

Author