Juan Soto delivers dramatic double after being late scratch from Yankees lineup with knee issue

OAKLAND, Calif.— Juan Soto’s sliding catch on Thursday cost him a start Friday, but not the entire night. After being a late scratch to the Yankees’ lineup Friday because of swelling and soreness in his left knee that he slammed against the wall at T-Mobile Park the day before, Soto showed enough improvement to enter the game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning. In a surprise to no one, Soto came through in the dramatic moment, drilling an RBI double the other way that drove in what turned out to be the winning run in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory over the A’s at the Coliseum. X-rays were negative on Soto’s knee, but he still had some swelling and soreness Friday that, following pregame treatment and exercises, led the Yankees to play it cautious and keep him on the bench at least to start the night. “Just feel like it’s the best thing to hold him out tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said before the game. With just over a week left in the regular season, as they try to pin down the AL East and head into October on a high note, the Yankees could ill afford being without Soto for long. “Not overly [concerned about it long-term],” Boone said.

“Even in talking to [director of sports medicine and rehab Mike Schuk], it’s not something he’s concerned with long-term here.Just a day-to-day thing.

Hopefully he’s even available tonight in some capacity.” In hindsight, the Yankees gladly would have taken the ball dropping for a foul — trailing the Mariners 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh — rather than Soto putting his body at risk, especially at this point in the season.Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! But that is easier said than done for Soto, who also has plenty at stake less t...