Time travel: Rookie lifts Nats over Yanks

WASHINGTON — Aaron Hicks’ go-ahead two-run homer sparked chants of “Let’s go, Yankees!” on the road and helped New York beat Washington 4-2 in the second game of an unusual semidoubleheader Monday, after pinch-hitter Juan Soto’s tiebreaking tworun shot for the Nationals won the opener 5-3.

These games originally were scheduled more than a month ago, and Game 1 resumed after being suspended because of rain in the middle of the sixth — so technically, Soto managed to homer in a game played before he made his major league debut.

Huh?

The 19-year-old Soto was called up from the minors for the first time five days after Game 1 started on May 15; it picked back up at 3-all and the Nationals about to bat in the bottom of the sixth. After Bryce Harper — who had a full beard back on May 15, when the game began, but was clean-shaven this time — struck out, and Anthony Rendon singled, Soto drove a 97 mph fastball from Chad Green (4-1) to the back of the second deck in right field.

It was Soto’s sixth homer since he was brought up from Double-A Harrisburg on May 20 — and second against the Yankees. Soto stood and admired this one before beginning his trot around the bases.

Soto’s stats — and all others from Game 1 — will count as being part of the originally scheduled game on May 15, but Soto’s official debut will still be considered to have happened on the actual date it happened, according to the Nationals, citing the Elias Sports Bureau.

PHILLIES 6, CARDINALS 5, 10 INNINGS: Left fielder Marcell Ozuna dived for and missed Aaron Altherr’s two-run double with two outs in the 10th inning, allowing Philadelphia to rally for a win over St. Louis. ASTROS 5, RAYS 4: Alex Bregman smacked a walk-off, two-run double with the bases loaded against Tampa Bay to give Houston its 12th straight win. PIRATES 1, BREWERS 0: Trevor Williams pitched one-hit ball over seven innings and two Pittsburgh relievers closed out a two-hitter in a victory over Milwaukee. Williams (6-4) struck out seven and walked two for his first victory in a month. NATIONALS LAND HERRERA FROM ROYALS: Right-hander Kelvin Herrera was acquired by Washington from the Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers. The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Yohanse Morel to Kansas City.