The New York Yankees returned from the All-Star break and were awestruck of Juan Soto's big performance.
The Yankees hope they can discuss another big showing in a win Saturday afternoon when they continue a four-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
Although the Yankees are 9-18 in their past 27 games since getting their 50th win June 14 in Boston, the Yankees are a modest 4-2 in their past six after opening the series with Friday's 6-1 win.
Despite not driving in a run, Soto was the main attraction in a game when Anthony Volpe hit a bases-clearing double in a four-run third inning. Soto went 4-for-4 with a walk and also scored three times.
He hit a bunt single in the third and added a double in the fourth, where he scored after two errors.
It was Soto's second four-hit game as a Yankee and the major league-leading 31st time the All-Star reached at least three times. Soto also has multiple hits in five of his past six games and is batting .462 (12-for-26) in that span.
"It's worth the price of admission to say the least," Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said. "What a magnificent hitter. And then even in the last at-bat, not giving in and staying disciplined with his approach and seeing quality pitches. The fact that two balls are slugged to the opposite field and he drops a bunt. He's got it all."
The Rays are a respectable 15-11 in their past 26 games but coming off one of their worst showings of late. Left fielder Randy Arozarena was charged with a fielding error and Richie Palacios committed a throwing error on Soto's double as part of a three-error night.
Brandon Lowe homered but the Rays were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and struggled in that area for the fourth consecutive game. Tampa Bay has scored seven runs and is 1-for-41 with runners in scoring position in that span.
"We haven't had a game like that in quite some time," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It just got away from us and we didn't do our best to keep it tight. Ideally you bounce back tomorrow and play a better baseball game."
Nestor Cortes (4-8, 3.67 ERA), who spent the first half producing drastically different numbers at home and on the road, starts for the Yankees on Saturday. Cortes is 4-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 10 starts at home and 0-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 10 road starts.
Cortes last pitched July 11 in Tampa Bay, when he allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss.
The left-hander is 2-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 15 career appearances (10 starts) against the Rays. Cortes is 0-4 with a 6.12 ERA in his past six outings, all starts, against Tampa Bay.
Taj Bradley (4-4, 2.90), who is 3-0 with a 0.97 ERA in his past six starts for Tampa Bay. Bradley did not allow an earned run for the fourth time this season when he allowed five hits and struck out eight while tying a career high with seven innings in a 2-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians on July 12.
Bradley's only career start against the Yankees was his season debut on May 10, when the right-hander allowed one run on four hits in six innings of a 2-0 loss.
