Juan Soto owns defensive lapses in World Series Game 1 as sloppy play stifles Yankees

LOS ANGELES — It doesn't have to be a World Series Classic. There won't be numerous video mashups of Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series alongside Kirk Gibson's legendary home run from Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. And certainly not another tale of a Los Angeles Dodger circling the bases in late October at Chavez Ravine. The New York Yankees found themselves on the wrong side of baseball history Friday night, but it doesn't have to play out that way.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dodgers center fielder Kike Hernandez hit a ball down the right-field line that got away from Juan Soto, the American League Gold Glove Award finalist this season. Soto came within five feet of taking the catch, having to cover 75 feet, but fell just short of 70 before the ball slipped past him. Soto's momentum carried him into foul territory, allowing Hernandez to advance to third base with a triple.

Running Soto's route proved costly.

The next batter, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, delivered a shallow fly ball to Soto. Hernandez tagged from third and scored on a sacrifice fly, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Gavin Lux ended the inning with a line out to center field.

If the Yankees were indulging in what-if games, they might imagine that the score was tied at zero if Soto Hernandez played the ball differently. Statcast estimated a catch probability of just 5 percent, indicating that it would take a spectacular effort to get Soto out. Right off the bat, Soto believed he took the right path, going in a direct line to the ball. However, had he taken a more circuitous route and let the ball go in front of him, Hernandez would never have reached third.

“Right now, you're trying to make the play,” Soto said. “After the ball goes past you, it feels really bad. At the end of the day, when the ball hit, I thought I had a chance, but the ball kept fading and going away.”

Soto is one of the most gifted players in the game, poised to make life-changing money in free agency this offseason. But if there is a weakness in his game, it is his defense. Watching Soto during the regular season can be an adventure every time the ball is hit his way. This season, he finished with a minus-5 strikeout average, 38th out of 44 right fielders.

He recorded a slightly better result in run defense, finishing at minus-1. The only aspect of his defense where he excels is his arm. Nevertheless, his candidacy for the Gold Glove Award raises questions about the validity of the voting process, which relies on managers and assistant coaches accounting for 75 percent of the vote.

This offseason, the superstar outfielder worked with center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., a defensive wizard who acknowledged that improving his defense was imperative. During the Yankees' Week 1 series in Houston, Soto said, “Defense wins the championship.” A more effective defensive play in the fifth inning could have prevented a run for the Dodgers and changed the outlook of Game 1.

“When it doesn't go your way, it sucks,” Soto said.

The Yankees' defense was put to the test again in the eighth inning when Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani blasted a 113.9 mph double off the right-center field wall. Soto initially bowled after retrieving the ball, then threw to second base where Gleyber Torres was positioned to receive it. Soto's throw was a one-hop that caught Torres up the middle, allowing Ohtani to sprint for third base as the ball sailed past the Yankees' second baseman.

Torres took heat online for misplaying Hopp, but Soto believes the blame falls on him.

“I should have made a better throw,” Soto said.

Confusion reigned in the game from the moment Ohtani's batted ball flew into the air. Anthony Volpe and Torres both positioned themselves as cutoff men. When Torres realized no one was covering second base and a play might be on the bag, he retreated, backpedaled into position but failed to make enough room for a clean hop on Soto's throw.

When the ball slipped past Torres, Anthony Rizzo looked on as a spectator rather than providing backup. Ohtani scored in the next at-bat when Mookie Betts delivered a sacrifice fly. Through eight innings, both Dodgers' runs were the result of Yankees' defensive mistakes.

“Every little thing in the game, especially in these games, is an opportunity for the offense to get another run,” Torres said. “He finished third. Mookie hit the fly ball to center and it was a tie game. I have to adjust. If I get another chance, try to block the ball and make it easier by putting it in front.”

“It was a tough game for him,” Soto said. “He was not on base. He was on his way to the base. I think if I could have seen where he was when I threw the ball, I would have made a better throw. It's a tough throw but that's part of it.”

There is also second-guessing surrounding Yankees manager Aaron Boone's decision to pull Torres after his ninth-inning double. Boone singled him out to replace Jason Dominguez as the pinch-runner — an important move, especially considering that a run in that situation was crucial with the game tied. Aaron Judge brought in runners on first and second but failed to capitalize, tying the game as it headed into the bottom of the ninth.

In extra innings, Boone brought in Oswaldo Cabrera to play second base. Tommy Edman hit a ground ball to Cabrera's right, which went into the outfield after he overcommitted. While Torres may not be the strongest defender, he is adept at moving to his right. Had the Yankees gotten Edman's ground ball out, Ohtani would have come to the plate with two outs, potentially reversing Boone's decision to bring in Nestor Cortes. Boone had Tim Hill warm up with Cortes and indicated that he would have strongly considered bringing Hill in if Ohtani had led off with two outs.

Instead, Ohtani was the only one when he came to the plate. Alex Verdugo made a hard catch in foul territory in Ohtani's at-bat, crashing into the wall and into the stands. The Yankees then intentionally chose to walk Bates to match up a lefty-on-lefty with Freeman. Cortes missed his spot, and Freeman delivered a walk-off grand slam, winning Game 1 for the Dodgers.

Sloppiness has been one of the Yankees' biggest flaws this season, and it could cost them a chance to take a one-game lead in the World Series.

(Top photo by Juan Soto: AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)