Monster Giancarlo Stanton HR in Game 5 gives Yankees epic Juan Soto hot mic moment
Giancarlo Stanton has done it again. Why the Cleveland Guardians are even pitching to him remains a mystery because he's carrying the New York Yankees this postseason. Stanton won Game 3 of the ALDS for the Yankees and was a catalyst for the victories in Games 1 and 4 of the ALCS (he nearly won Game 3, too, before the bullpen blew it).
He's looking to make his mark on Game 5 on Saturday night, and he might have already. In the top of the sixth inning with the Yankees down two with two outs and a runner on, Stanton worked the count full on Guardians starter Tanner Bibee and then absolutely destroyed a slider over the 19-foot wall in left-center field for his fourth homer of the series.
That tied the game at 2-2 in what was another massive momentum shift. Just imagine if Aaron Judge hadn't grounded into a double play after Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto led off the inning with singles! Could've been a true all-time moment.
Nonetheless, every subsequent Stanton home run has resulted in the dugout absolutely erupting in new ways, and everybody went nuts again. But this time, the broadcast accidentally caught some naughty language on a hot mic.
Juan Soto was heard screaming "let's f---ing go!" at the top of the dugout as Stanton's teammates poured out to celebrate his latest accomplishment.
Giancarlo Stanton home run ties ALCS Game 5 for Yankees as Juan Soto goes nuts
Does that sound like a guy who's ready to pack up and leave in free agency? It's possible, but Soto's been at the forefront of the vibes renaissance every time we look. He's 2-for-3 so far on Saturday and had an RBI taken from him when Torres was thrown out at the plate in the first inning. He was also thrown out at second base in the sixth on Judge's GIDP. He might've been the happiest guy to see the offensive breakthrough after the team was quiet for over five innings.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt left Bibee in one batter too long after he considered removing him. What a shame. And that was the only strike Bibee threw in that at-bat (Stanton swung at two balls).
The Yankees killed a Guards rally in the bottom half of the sixth and Stanton will at least step into the batter's box one more time tonight. If the Guardians don't immediately issue him an intentional walk, Soto might be screaming "let's f---ing go" a little prematurely.