ARLINGTON, Texas — Juan Soto kept his eye on Aaron Judge on the field.
The judge responded by returning the favor.
The Yankees’ road show, comprised of arguably the best duo in baseball, was inseparable on Tuesday, with the first-year teammates playing and acting as if they’d been in the same outfield together for decades.
Soto got Judge the at-bats he desperately needed, and then Judge helped Soto avoid questions he didn’t want to face about his future, and the two complemented each other well in a 5-3 AL victory at Globe Life Field in the All-Star game.
Not all stars are created equal.
Shohei Ohtani is in great form after giving the National League an early lead with a three-run homer in the third inning.
At just 22 years old, rising star Paul Skenes is making quite the name for himself.
For much of their careers, Judge and Soto have been known as two of the best hitters in baseball, arguably among a handful of players in that division.
Perhaps their mutual attraction transformed their solo work into a collaborative performance.
“It was an incredible experience,” said Soto, who was making his first All-Star Game appearance and starting behind Judge. [life]When I got the chance to go [to the All-Star Game] “It will be my first time playing alongside one of the best players in the league.”
Soon the judges needed Soto’s help, and they got it right away.
Much of the talk leading up to the night had been about the uncertain matchup: Skenes, a rookie pitcher, had only pitched one inning and Judge was the cleanup hitter for the American League.
After two quick outs by Steven Kwan (popped out) and Gunnar Henderson (tapped out), it was all down to Soto.
Arguably the best hitting acumen in baseball was facing a 2-2 count.
“After two strikes, I was trying to attack at the plate because I wanted to make sure he got in,” Soto said. Soto fouled off a 100.1 mph fastball and then was given two pitches and a walk. He looked back at Judge as he approached the plate. “I looked at Judge and I said, ‘Hey, man, it’s your turn.'”
The judge’s moment arrived, but it was over quickly.
The Yankees captain saw the first pitch, a 99.7 mph fastball, but couldn’t throw it and got out on a grounder to end the inning.
That moment never materialized, but Soto gave Judge, and Skenes, who admitted he wanted to face the Yankees’ home run king, the opportunity he had hoped for.
After Soto looked out for his teammates, he looked out for his team.
The American League, trailing 0-3 after Ohtani’s home run in the top of the third inning, brought in Soto in the bottom of the inning.
Marcus Semien and Kwan reached base off Giants starter Logan Webb, who scored two runs on Soto’s grounder to right-center field.
Soto didn’t stop running and watched as center fielder Teoscar Hernandez waited for the ball to reach him, allowing Soto to turn a single into a two-run double.
They then scored on a single by David Frye, and in the fifth inning, Boston’s Jarren Duran hit a two-run homer to give the American League the lead.
The American League held on to first place, with Judge and Soto hanging in there with each other.
The two were microphoned for the Fox broadcast and left the game together after the fourth inning, taking part in media interviews side-by-side.
They smiled.
They laughed.
The pair were asked if they would like to stay together for longer than just this one season.
Soto, a soon-to-be free agent whom Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has already said he wants to bring back with a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, looked down.
Now it was Judge’s turn to help his friend.
“Let’s just get through this year,” Judge chimed in. “The main goal is to win. … Focus on that and the rest will come later.”
