Yankees ALCS Game 1 Notes: Juan Sotos home run; Anthony Rizzo update

The Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 on Monday night in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Here are some notes from Monday's game…

Juan Soto hits first postseason home run with the Yankees

The Yankees kept knocking on the door in the first two innings against the Guardiansr Alex Cobb but couldn't operate the clutch.

When the third inning was over, the Yankees left four runners on base and were 0-4 with runners in scoring position. It looked like another night where the Yankees would leave runner after runner behind on their way to a narrow loss, but Soto changed the tenor of the game in the third.

Leading the way, Soto Cobb went deep and blasted a 94 mph sinker over the centerfield wall. On a cold fall night in the Bronx, it was impressive and gave the Yankees a spark.

“It got us on the board because he was the 11th batter or something at that point. We had a lot of good at-bats, we had traffic, we had six baserunners, but we had nothing to show for it,” the manager said Aaron Boone said after the game. “So he broke through and got us on the board and we continued to have good offense from there.”

The Yankees scored two more runs in the third – thanks to two wild pitches that allowed a runner to score – and two more later, which was more than enough for starter Carlos Rodon, who had nine strikeouts and allowed just one run over six innings.

Anthony Rizzos first game back

Rizzo started at first base on Monday and was solid for the Yankees. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, manning his position as the veteran always does.

The Yankees were happy to have their starting first baseman back, but he was lifted in the ninth inning Oswaldo Cabrera.

Boone explained this decision after the game.

“Rizzo is good. Hand was good. I thought he was sharp and that’s good to see,” he said. “He was just physically and emotionally exhausted there toward the end of the game and I felt like I had to get him out of there.

“He hasn’t been on the field for over two weeks. He came out fine with his hand, we're expecting him there tomorrow. I thought he had really good bats.”

The Yankees captain expects Rizzo to be in the lineup for Game 2, but we'll see how the veteran feels tomorrow.

Giancarlo Stanton continues to puree

Stanton launched another home run Monday, his second of the postseason, a 439-foot moonshot to left-center field. That home run capped the Yankees' Game 1 score, but the slugger continues to commit to the team in October, especially when others don't.

“Kind of a presence in the middle of our lineup there. He’s capable of that,” Boone said of Stanton. “That ball absolutely nailed it on a cold night when it hit the back of the bullpen there. He narrowly missed a hit in his first AB…he just stacked a quality ABS and when he can do that, he's capable of scoring like he did tonight.”

So far this postseason, Stanton has a record of 7-for-19 (.368) with two home runs and five RBI – not to mention a stolen base. This comes after he batted just .233 in the regular season, which raises the question of how he can continue to be a better hitter in the playoffs.

“Just hyperfocus,” Stanton said. “I understand how important every pitch, every moment is. I understand that you won't always be successful in these moments, but anything I can do, any information, any video, any momentum, I can do to be there.” My best place in that moment.