{"id":273782,"date":"2024-05-24T22:45:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-25T05:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/?p=273782"},"modified":"2024-05-25T06:19:22","modified_gmt":"2024-05-25T13:19:22","slug":"juan-soto-returns-to-petco-sparks-barrage-of-third-inning-homers-that-doom-padres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/sports\/2024\/05\/24\/juan-soto-returns-to-petco-sparks-barrage-of-third-inning-homers-that-doom-padres\/","title":{"rendered":"Soto Returns to Petco, Sparks Barrage of Third-Inning Homers to Doom Padres"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"MLB<\/a>
Juan Soto smiles in a post-game interview at Petco Park in his return to San Diego as a Yankee. Photo credit: Screen shot, @YesNetwork via X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Juan Soto, of course, did not take himself out of San Diego. The Padres<\/a>, with payroll firmly in mind, made the trade<\/a> that sent the slugger to the Yankees, and he is thriving in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But forgive Padre fans if they felt Friday as if salt was being poured in their wounds when Soto and fellow star Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers in the third inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And after a single by Alex Verdugo, it went from bad to worse when a third star Yankee, Giancarlo Stanton, sent another ball out of the park \u2013 they were all no doubters \u2013 as New York built a commanding 6-0 lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five runs in the inning all scored with two outs, so clearly it was not Yu Darvish’s night. He would go on to give up one more run \u2013 another homer, this time from Gleyber Torres \u2013 before leaving in the sixth trailing 7-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Padres ultimately fell 8-0 as they opened up a six-game home stand with a three-game series against the Yankees, who lead the American League East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton all go DEEP for the @Yankees<\/a> in the 3rd inning! \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/Hkg9bATSvC<\/a><\/p>— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>