Soto powers Yankees to sweep, stout 12-win start

Juan Soto hit a three-run homer and Cody Poteet pitched six solid innings in his debut for New York as the Yankees won, 8-2, to sweep a doubleheader Saturday over the host Cleveland Guardians and continue one of the strongest starts in their storied history.

New York took the opener, 3-2.

The Yankees are 12-3 for the seventh time and first since 2003, when they made one of their 40 trips to the World Series. They’re 8-1 on the road.

Soto, acquired by the club in an offseason trade from San Diego to put New York back on top, connected in the fourth off Triston McKenzie

(1-2), who struggled from the outset and walked six in four innings.

Poteet (1-0) allowed one run and six hits while picking up his first win since 2021 — 1,056 days ago — with Miami. The 29-year-old did not pitch in the majors last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022.

He signed a contract in January with New York to add pitching depth after the Yankees traded some of it away in the deal for Soto.

One of the few bright spots for Cleveland was

Estevan Florial, who homered in the fifth inning to help avert a shutout. Florial was once rated New York’s top prospect before the club traded him to the Guardians in December.

Josh Naylor also homered in Game 2 for the Guardians, who are 1-9 in their last five doubleheaders.

Already down 3-0 following Anthony Volpe’s

RBI single, McKenzie grooved a 3-0 fastball that Soto pounded over the wall in center for his third homer with New York.

In the opener, the Yankees got a two-run homer from Oswaldo Cabrera and survived a scary ninth inning by closer Clay Holmes to improve to 5-0 in one-run games.

New York starter Clarke Schmidt (1-0) allowed one run over five-plus innings before manager Aaron Boone turned to his solid bullpen.

Lodolo’s return to Reds a success

Healthy again, Nick Lodolo looked quite comfortable in his return to the major leagues. Lodolo struck out 10 while pitching 5„ scoreless innings for the Reds in a 5-0 victory over the White Sox in Chicago.

The 6-foot-6-inch lefthander allowed one hit and walked one. He also hit two batters. It was Lodolo’s first major league appearance since May 6, also against the White Sox. He began the season on the 15-day injured list because of a left calf issue.

“I feel way more prepared than I’ve ever been,” said Londolo, 26. “Just the things I’ve done for my body and everything to put myself in the best position is definitely the best it’s been in my career, so I’m excited to see that keep going.”

Bell fuels Marlins in home win

Josh Bell homered, Max Meyer allowed one run over six innings, and the Marlins beat the visiting Braves, 5-1, for their first home win of the season.

Bell hit a fly ball off Braves starter Chris Sale that sneaked over the left-field wall in the first inning. It was Bell’s second home run of the season.

Meyer (2-0) continued his strong start, limiting the Braves’ high-powered offense to one run on six hits while striking out a career-high seven batters and not issuing a walk.

Julien, Castro key Twins’ sweep

Edouard Julien and Willi Castro homered as the Twins beat the host Tigers, 4-1, to sweep a doubleheader Saturday. Minnesota used a sevenrun 12th inning to win the first game, 11-5.

Detroit struck out 27 times in the doubleheader and 42 times in a 24-hour span including Friday’s rain-delayed 8-2 win.

Simeon Woods-Richardson (1-0) allowed one run on two hits and a walk in six innings in the second game. Cole Sands pitched the final 2‚ innings for his first save of the season. Matt Manning gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in 6„ innings.

Before the first game, the Twins placed shortstop Carlos Correa on the 10-day injured list after he sustained an oblique strain early in Friday’s loss to the Tigers.

Phillies’ Castellanos walks it off

Nick Castellanos hit a walk-off, bases-loaded single in the ninth inning, Kyle Schwarber homered and the Phillies rallied to beat the Pirates, 4-3, in Philadelphia. Alec Bohm added an RBI for the Phillies, who moved over .500.

Oneil Cruz homered for Pittsburgh. Jeff Hoffman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, to conclude an impressive outing by Philadelphia’s relievers, who struck out seven, walked one and allowed one hit in five scoreless innings.

Rangers’ Burke breaks hand

Rangers lefthanded reliever Brock Burke broke his right hand while punching a wall after he allowed three hits and four runs in the seventh inning of a 12-8 win over the Astros Friday night . . . Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant left Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays in Toronto in the fourth inning because of a stiff back. Bryant crashed into the outfield wall after making a catch on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s drive in the first.