The New York Yankees’ acquisition of Juan Soto had many risks. New York traded five pieces to the San Diego Padres in order to acquire the slugger – whose contract expires this offseason.

There was no guarantee he would stay. There is still no guarantee he will stay. All Yankees fans can reasonably hope for is that the slugger can provide enough moments in one season to last a lifetime.

If that was his job, consider it accomplished.

Soto’s tenth inning, three-run run against Cleveland Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis won New York the American League pennant for the first time since 2009 and sent the Yankees to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.

They now await the winner of the National League Championship Series. Either they will face their age-old rivals – the Los Angeles Dodgers – or there will be a second Subway Series this century against the New York Mets.

Yankees RF Juan Soto hit the home run that sent them to their first World Series in 15 years

The New York Yankees invade the mound as they advance to their first Fall Classic since 2009

Luke Weaver, who entered the game in the ninth inning and remained in the tenth, was credited with the Yankees’ victory.

As for the Guardians, their quest for their first World Series since 1948 will continue. Gaddis was credited with the loss.

Soto was not only the man who ignited the win, he was the one who caught the final out – running around the infield as his Yankee teammates came out of the dugout to celebrate their accomplishment.

For his exploits throughout the Series – during which he hit four home runs – Giancarlo Stanton was named ALCS MVP.

The Yankees bats started off strong in the first inning with a hit by second baseman Gleyber Torres and a double by Soto. But Torres was thrown home on Soto’s hit, and a perfectly accurate throw from Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez beat the runner and he was out.

Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee then loaded the bases by diving outfielder Aaron Judge and third baseman Jazz Chisholm, but escaped the inning unscathed by forcing New York first baseman Anthony Rizzo to ground. align.

The Yankees were then retired for the next four straight innings in an impressive display from Bibee – including four strikeouts from innings two through five.

At that point, Cleveland scored when catcher Bo Naylor hit a double that sent his brother – first baseman Josh Naylor – home for a 1-0 lead.

Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee dominated the Yankees through the first five innings of play

Andres Gimenez celebrates after hitting a double in the fifth inning against the Yankees

But the Yankees were relatively lively thanks to strong pitching from starter Carlos Rodon. He may have allowed two hits in the first four innings, but he kept the team in the game.

That was the case, until he gave up a double to Gimenez in the bottom of the fifth. Down to their last out of the inning, the Guardians sent outfielder Steven Kwan who singled to score Gimenez and take a 2-0 lead.

Hope was low for Yankees fans after their offensive performance was unsuccessful until the sixth inning. Torres singled in the top of the sixth and Soto grabbed his own hit right after, but a ground ball from Judge led to a double play putting New York on its heels again.

Giancarlo Stanton stood up. The slugger fell into an 0-2 hole early in the at-bat, but he managed to get a full count.

Bibee’s sixth pitch was up the middle. Stanton hacked it and sent it 446 feet deep to left center field. After six tough innings, the Yankees had tied the game at 2-2.

Giancarlo Stanton throws his bat after tying the game in the sixth inning with a home run

Goalie closer Emmanuel Clase didn’t slide like he did in Games 3 and 4 when he was called in relief

The chess match continued – neither team could try their luck in the seventh and eighth rounds.

Emmanuel Clase – who gave up back-to-back homers in Game 3 and the go-ahead run in Game 4 – took over in the top of the ninth in hopes he could forget the mistakes of the previous two nights. him.

He sent out Judge and Stanton before giving up a single to Chisholm – who had only two hits previously in this series. Fortunately for Clase, he escaped the inning unscathed after pinch hitter Oswaldo Cabrera returned a grounder to Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio to end the top of the ninth.

We went to the bottom of the ninth. Luke Weaver, who gave up the game-tying home run in Game 3, sought his own type of redemption against the bottom of the Guardians’ lineup. He retired the team in order, forcing extra innings for the second time in this championship series.

Juan Soto watches his tenth inning home run go out of the park to take a 5-2 lead

Soto celebrates with his Yankees teammates after hitting the go-ahead run in the tenth

Receiver Austin Wells jumps into closer Luke Weaver’s arms after final ALCS out

Hunter Gaddis took the mound for Cleveland in the top of the tenth, sending out Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe with a groundout before catcher Austin Wells. New York outfielder Alex Verdugo rolled what should have been a double play ball up the middle, but Rocchio blocked the transition and both runners were left safe.

After dispatching Torres, Soto intervened. The outfielder went for a 1-2 count before fouling out on three consecutive pitches. He took the seventh pitch deep to center field – seemingly hanging in the air for an eternity – before finally landing on the other side of the wall for a three-run home run to take a 5-2 lead.

Cleveland’s turn. Weaver stayed inside, managing to get Kwan eliminated. Kyle Mandzardo pushed a ball through the gap between shortstop and third to reach base. Jose Ramirez, the usually reliable hitter who had been silenced all night, hit a fly ball to Judge in center.

The last hopes rested on Lane Thomas. After extending his at-bat to a 1-2 count, Thomas moved him to right field. After being the one to take the lead, it was only fitting that Soto was the one to win the final out to send the Yankees to their first Fall Classic in 15 years.

For a team that is loaded with expectations every year, there have been plenty of opportunities this season to cast doubt on the Yankees.

They now have the opportunity to add a 28th banner in the Bronx, which would only expand their position at the top of the baseball world.