Juan Soto shines on offense and defense in Yankees playoff debut

If you thought Juan Soto’s first regular-season game with the Yankees was terrific, make room for his pinstriped playoff debut.Soto collected three hits and threw out a runner at home plate Saturday as the Yankees beat the Royals, 6-5, in Game 1 of the ALDS in The Bronx.Not long after receiving a loud ovation during pregame roster warm-ups — fans aren’t going to miss a chance to re-court the 25-year-old soon-to-be free agent at this point — Soto doubled down the left-field line in the first inning.When the Yankees failed to score after putting runners on second and third with no outs, Soto kept the game scoreless by cutting down Salvador Perez at home plate.It was a big moment to steady shaky ace Gerrit Cole because the first six hitters to put the ball in play all hit shots of at least 99.2 miles per hour off the bat.There were shades of when Soto threw out the would-be tying run in the ninth inning against the Astros on Opening Day.

He also had an RBI single that started the season-opening comeback to turn a 4-0 deficit into a 5-4 win.It also was a forecast for an incredible regular season during which Soto led the American League in runs scored (128) and smashed his career high for home runs (41) while collecting 109 RBIs.Massive free-agent payday all but sealed.“I’m not thinking of the free agency part of it.

I don’t think he is,” manager Aaron Boone said before the series began.“I think he’s loving being here and being part of this team, knowing what’s at stake and what he has an opportunity to do.

He’s been in playoff baseball before.He’s won a championship before.

He obviously knows what it takes.”Soto didn’t score a run or drive one in Saturday, but he was in the middle of two scoring rallies.Soto singled in the fifth when the Yankees tied the score and took a 4-3 lead on a pair of bases-loaded walks.He later backed Alex Verdugo’s sixth-inning leadoff walk with a single that moved Verdugo into scoring position for Austin ...