OAKLAND, Calif. — A day after his dramatic pinch-hit double in the 10th inning, Juan Soto returned to the Yankees lineup on Saturday and stayed in it.
Soto was removed from the lineup at the last minute on Friday because of swelling in his left knee caused by making a sliding catch against the wall on Thursday, but he improved in a pinch-hitting cameo and returned to the lineup the next day, going 2-for-6 with two runs scored in a 10-0 win over the Athletics.
Perhaps even more encouraging than the two hits was the way Soto quickly ran up the line while trying to get a grounder out in the fourth inning.
“It was encouraging,” manager Aaron Boone said, “and of course it was a little scary when he hit the wall like that and then we had to take him off.” [Friday] The day before night came when he put on his cloak and came into the house to do his work.
“But I thought he moved really well tonight, so that was really encouraging.”
The Yankees have a job to do this weekend, but their three-game series here also doubles as their farewell to the Coliseum.
With the Athletics set to eventually relocate to Las Vegas, they will tentatively play in Sacramento at the start of next season, marking the Yankees' final trip to a stadium with so much history, including Derek Jeter's flip play in the 2001 AL Championship Series.
“For me, [something special about it]”I've been here a long time. I've been here as a player's son, I've been here as a player, I've been here as a manager, I've been here as an announcer,” Boone said.
“I've had a lot of great times here, a lot of great moments, and I know it's a historic place over the years and a place that's had a lot of great players and great teams.”
“So I feel very nostalgic about a lot of the places that have been around for a long time. So it's meaningful to me.”
Boone recalled coming here and sitting on the bench when his father, Bob, played for the Angels in the early 1980s.
Boone made his Yankees debut in 2003, facing Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder in a three-game series.
On Saturday afternoon, several Yankees players and staff members made a trip up to Mount Davis, at the top of the center-field bleachers, to take a photo.
The Yankees entered Sunday's final game with a career record of 147-135 at the Coliseum.
DJ LeMahieu (hip impingement) returned to baseball activities and tee-off a few days ago, but is unlikely to play before the end of the regular season.
Jon Bertie started Saturday for the first time since May 24 (including a lengthy stint on the disabled list) and was two for four with one hit by pitch, allowing Athletics left-handed starter J.P. Sears to take on third base while allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. a day of rest.
Boone recorded his 600th career win on Saturday, becoming just the seventh Yankees manager to reach the milestone.
