Juan Soto sparks chants of 'M-V-P!' at Yankee Stadium 51 games into season

juan soto sparks chants of 'm-v-p!' at yankee stadium 51 games into season

New York Yankees' Juan Soto hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — Fifty-one games into the season, Juan Soto is sparking chants of “M-V-P!” at Yankee Stadium.

“Way too early,” Soto said after his second two-homer game of the homestand led the Yankees over the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Wednesday night and stopped New York's first two-game losing streak in three weeks.

juan soto sparks chants of 'm-v-p!' at yankee stadium 51 games into season

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates withAaron Judge after hitting a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Soto drove a full-count sinker into the visitors’ bullpen in left in the third for a two-run homer and a 4-0 lead, a 414-foot drive off Bryce Miller that hit the back wall on a hop. Soto connected on another sinker on Miller’s first pitch of the sixth inning, a 369-foot shot into the left-field stands.

juan soto sparks chants of 'm-v-p!' at yankee stadium 51 games into season

New York Yankees' Juan Soto follows through on a home run against the Seattle Mariners uring the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

That prompted the “M-V-P!” chorus from the crowd of 40,224.

“I love when when the Bronx gets behind our guys,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously showing their appreciation for him.”

In his first season since the Yankees acquired him from San Diego, Soto is hitting .313 with 13 homers, 40 RBIs and a .978 OPS. The 25-year-old Dominican repeatedly responds to the admiration and affection from the fans behind him in the right-field seats.

“I just got to turn around and they go crazy,” he said. “I know it's a lot of Dominicans. They all want me to say hi. I tried to say hi to everybody, but I got to be focused in the game, too.”

juan soto sparks chants of 'm-v-p!' at yankee stadium 51 games into season

New York Yankees' Juan Soto smiles in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Soto, who can become a free agent after the World Series, has helped boost the Yankees to an AL-best 34-17 record.

“I’m enjoying every part of every part of it,” he said. “You never know how long this going to be like that, so you do try to enjoy it every second. So I just soak it all in.”

Judge, the 2022 AL MVP, loves hearing Soto getting a fan response similar to the one the Yankees captain has long received.

juan soto sparks chants of 'm-v-p!' at yankee stadium 51 games into season

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, center, celebrates with Juan Soto, right, and Alex Verdugo after the team's win in a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

“It gives me chills," Judge said. “The fans are definitely loving the show he's putting on."

Judge hit an opposite-field, two-run homer to right in the first off Miller and is batting .268 with 14 homers — 11 since late April — and 34 RBIs.

Judge credits Soto with boosting the entire batting order.

“It’s entertaining. It’s fun to watch. It gives everybody behind him a good look at all the guys pitches, what he’s trying to do that day,” Judge said.

After Nestor Cortes pitched five scoreless innings, Luke Weaver allowed a three-run homer to Cal Raleigh that cut the lead to 5-3 in the eighth. Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the bottom half.

Entertaining the crowd, Judge, Soto and Verdugo urged on different sections of the bleachers in a cheering competition during an eighth-inning pitching change

“It’s just a good way to get the crowd into it,” Judge said. “Get them a little rowdy, man, they just want to cheer.”

Soto has 19 career two-homer games but has never hit three. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the seventh against Cody Bolton but struck out on three big swings.

“I think I went too far," Soto said. “I got too happy with it.”

He leaves the stadium with the sounds of the fans in his head.

“At the end of the day, they're part of the game, they’re part of the team,” he said. “They put pressure on the other team. And whenever they go crazy like that, that other team feels the pressure.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

OTHER NEWS

26 minutes ago

Former Everton star Frank D'Arcy dies aged 77, as Toffees pay tribute to their title-winning defender

30 minutes ago

Ron Washington won't let losses deter belief in Angels: 'Ain't no damn failure'

30 minutes ago

General election 2024 live: Tories could win just 72 seats in next Parliament, new Survation poll says

30 minutes ago

Slovenia v Denmark LIVE: Euro 2024 team news, line-ups and more today

31 minutes ago

Gino D'Acampo 'rakes in £6m in two years' after he 'failed to pay £5m to staff and taxman' when his My Pasta Bar chain went under

31 minutes ago

'Britain's FBI' investigating PPE scandal linked to 'Baroness Bra' Michelle Mone interview at least five suspects under caution - as case reaches China

31 minutes ago

The Entire Young Sheldon Timeline Explained

33 minutes ago

John Sterling’s kids reveal what it’s like to have the legendary Yankees announcer as a dad: ‘Unlike any other human’

34 minutes ago

Londis shop orders staff to pour famous cider down drain over 'stolen' name

34 minutes ago

Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire proposal 'consistent' with principles of US plan, leader says

35 minutes ago

Top model Josh: ‘Celebs love me because I’m a Kiwi’

36 minutes ago

Greene homers twice and has a career-best 6 RBIs as Tigers rout Astros 13-5

36 minutes ago

Boozy England fans drink in the Euro 2024 atmosphere ahead of first game vs Serbia

39 minutes ago

Playwright James Graham: ‘We’re still living in Thatcher’s country’

39 minutes ago

Kate Middleton - latest: Prince William shares sweet message day after Princess returns to public duties

39 minutes ago

Poland vs Netherlands LIVE: Euro 2024 team news and line-ups ahead of Group D clash as Robert Lewandowski out

40 minutes ago

China is getting too much rain in the south and not enough rain, plus a heat wave, in the north

41 minutes ago

As the Raspberry Pi share price soars, is it set to be a great UK growth success?

41 minutes ago

World leaders condemn Putin's 'dictatorial' Ukraine ceasefire proposal

41 minutes ago

Richie Sambora on Bon Jovi docuseries: 'That's one person's perspective'

41 minutes ago

With a forward P/E of 3.28x, could this FTSE 250 stock make me rich?

41 minutes ago

NASCAR radio station: Channel, live streams to listen to 2024 Iowa race broadcast

41 minutes ago

Matt Shirvington reveals what he REALLY thinks of 'fast-paced' Sunrise

41 minutes ago

LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! Why it's criminal to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the England team

41 minutes ago

Axed Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson claims BBC bosses threatened to drop him from the World Cup final over a 'handbag' joke

41 minutes ago

Alisha Lehmann and Douglas Luiz 'set for historic double transfer to Juventus' this summer... as Italian club continues negotiations for the Aston Villa power couple

41 minutes ago

Married At First Sight's Jules Robinson throws wild baby shower complete with nappy-sniffing challenge and VERY racy games

41 minutes ago

Video: Lady Elliot Island boat capsize: Desperate search for missing man after boat overturned ends in tragedy off Queensland coast near Bundaberg after Life Flight winched a father and son to safety

41 minutes ago

Lady Elliot Island boat capsize: Desperate search for missing man after boat overturned ends in tragedy off Queensland coast near Bundaberg after Life Flight winched a father and son to safety

41 minutes ago

Man City are 'prepared to take Joao Cancelo on pre-season tour' after 17-month absence... as Premier League champions demand Barcelona meet £25m asking price

41 minutes ago

Video: FA 'warn England fans will have their Euro 2024 tickets confiscated if they misbehave in Germany'... as footage emerges of supporters singing '10 German bombers' in the streets ahead of clash with Serbia

41 minutes ago

Brave Kate releases Father's Day photo of William and the children - after Princess of Wales attended Trooping the Colour amid her cancer battle in boost to the nation

44 minutes ago

Why Hollow Knight: Silksong Referencing the Original Now Could Be a Boon

44 minutes ago

Texas continues to use controversial recruiting method despite outcry

44 minutes ago

Heatwave in Middle East makes power shortages hot topic during Eid Al Adha

44 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Dwarf Companion Has Magical Powers

45 minutes ago

Ex-presidential candidate Anies gets boost for Jakarta polls from Indonesia’s largest party

45 minutes ago

South-East Asia’s carbon storage dreams: Visionary climate solution or folly?

45 minutes ago

With future sorted, France’s Mbappe will be ‘unstoppable’ at Euro 2024, says Djibril Cisse

47 minutes ago

Does Donald Trump have a shot in appealing his hush money conviction?