New York, baby! The Subway Series is always a big deal around here, and this year was no exception. The hype leading up to the crosstown rivalry had an extra kick to it. The Yankees and Mets were both sitting pretty in first place in their divisions, and to add some spice, the Bronx’s favorite villain, Juan Soto, was back at Yankee Stadium for the first time since he switched sides to Queens. The anticipation from Yankees fans had been building since December, and when the day finally arrived, they showed up in full force with a record-breaking crowd of 47,700 fans. And boy, did they let Soto have it.
The noise was deafening in Yankee Stadium, with the pregame music blasting and the boos raining down on Soto as he took the field. The crowd didn’t hold back, booing him during pregame stretches, lineup introductions, and every time he stepped up to the plate. But Soto, being the pro that he is, took it all in stride. “You gotta embrace it,” he said after the Mets fell to the Yankees 6-2. “Whatever they throw at you, you just gotta take it like a man and enjoy the moment.”
Soto knew what he was getting into when he chose the Mets over the Yankees in free agency. The decision was made with full knowledge of the reception he would receive in the Bronx for the rest of his career. And boy, did the fans deliver. From signs saying “Boo this man!” to turning their backs on him in the outfield, the Yankees faithful made sure Soto felt their wrath. But through it all, Soto remained cool as a cucumber, tipping his hat to the crowd and smiling through the storm of boos.
The game itself saw the Yankees take down the Mets, with Soto drawing walks in all three of his plate appearances against Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon. Despite the Mets’ high-scoring offense, they couldn’t muster enough behind Soto’s walks to make a comeback. And in the end, it was a fly out from Soto that sealed the Yankees’ victory. But hey, there are two more games in the series, so who knows what will happen next.
Overall, it was a night filled with drama, tension, and a whole lot of noise. The Yankees fans made sure Soto knew exactly how they felt about his decision to join the Mets, and Soto took it all in stride. Whether he’ll let his bat do the talking in the next games remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, the Subway Series never disappoints in delivering some high-stakes, high-emotion baseball action.
