WATCH: Aaron Judge Gives Juan Soto His First Gatorade Shower After His Walk Off Hit Strengthens Yankees’ “October” Dreams

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ByAnanya Gondhi

Sep 13, 2024 | 6:43 AM EDT

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Did Aaron Judge's Gatorade shower for Juan Soto mark the turning point for the Yankees' season?

Ever wondered what it’s like to snatch victory and seize the day just at the last moment? Well, Juan Soto pulled off just that! And the New York Yankees’ reaction? Priceless. Just after Clay Holmes pulled off some clutch pitching, sealing the final two outs of the 10th, Soto took the stage in the bottom of the inning. And bam—he hit a walk-off single that sent the Yankees to a 2-1 win over the Red Sox! It was definitely a sight to watch.

With Red Sox reliever Josh Winckowski on the mound, Juan Soto stepped up and delivered a clutch line drive that sliced through the Red Sox defense like a hot knife through butter! The ball zoomed past shortstop Trevor Story, sending pinch-runner Jon Berti sprinting home from second base and securing a walk-off win for the Yankees. This win came at a solid time for the Bronx, who are fighting neck to neck with the Orioles to maintain their spot on the leaderboard! The excitement among the teammates and captain was palpable, who celebrated the 25-year-old’s milestone in style.

How did the Yankees celebrate Soto’s first walk-off hit?

Well, if you missed the celebration, don’t sweat it! The official TalkinYanks account has you covered with a video capturing the whole moment. Postgame, as Juan Soto was giving his interview, Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe snuck up from behind and doused him with a Gatorade bath! Soto, all smiles and soaking wet, couldn’t contain his excitement—jumping with joy and partially from the chill of the liquid, making things extra special for him.

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As it was his first Gatorade shower and his first walk-off win as a Yankee, the young star was absolutely thrilled to be part of such a memorable celebration! After the match, he even said, “We all know how fun October is. I think we’re carrying that in the last month of the season.” And wait, he didn’t stop there; also admitting that the team is keen to take this fighting spirit ’til November. The Talking Yankees post caption reflected the same, which read: “better be first of many.” Seeing Juan’s performance lately, chances are positive – in the last game, he hit a home run, and now, a walk-off win. It seems like Juan Soto is on a mission, with expectations set for the games ahead.

Juan Soto eyeing another series win

“My expectations are to win a championship, but we haven’t gotten that far yet,” Juan Soto said. The shortstop has been more than focused and excited to win the league, and he has made it clear! He admitted feeling more than happy with the team’s overall performance and their behavior, but there is one thing missing: to win a championship. That, according to him, is the “number one” priority. Soto wants to taste the win again, just like he did with the Washington Nationals in 2019. Plus, winning a World Series with the Yankees will have a silver lining to itself.

This victory can make it easier for Juan Soto to be re-signed to the Bronx again and will also end the ever-going discussion of what’s going to be the shortstop’s future once he enters free agency next year as ‘Boras five’. If everything happens up to Soto’s expectation, the Yankees will be all in to fight against the Mets to retain their talent. Well, it’s possible, but in any case scenario, the fight for the young talent will be a tough one. Moreover, right now, the Yankees are primarily focusing on maintaining their lead.

Thanks to Soto’s epic walk-off hit, the Yankees turned their 0-for-5 night with runners in scoring position into a win, and now, they’re cruising two games ahead of the Orioles in the AL East! With 15 games left, the Yanks are gearing up for a thrilling finish, trying to finish in first place. Do you think they will be able to do it, with Juan Soto working his magic and leading the team to another World Series title? Drop your thoughts in the comments.