Juan Soto homers as Yankees sweep doubleheader vs. Guardians

Cody Poteet allowed one run in six innings of his first major-league appearance in nearly two years, and Juan Soto broke things open with a three-run homer, as the visiting New York Yankees completed their doubleheader sweep of the Cleveland Guardians with an 8-2 victory Saturday night.

The right-hander Poteet (1-0) did not pitch in the majors last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and made his last big-league appearance in July 2022 for the Miami Marlins.

However, in his first major-league start since May 25, 2022, Poteet contained the Guardians, despite allowing six hits, and gave up his only run on a fifth-inning homer to ex-Yankee Estevan Florial. He didn't issue a walk and struck out four.

Meanwhile, Soto's third homer of the season highlighted a four-run fourth for New York, which won 3-2 earlier in the day and is an MLB-best 12-3 -- and 8-1 on the road. Anthony Rizzo had two hits and an RBI in the nightcap.

The Yankees roughed up Cleveland's Triston McKenzie (1-2), who allowed six runs -- five earned -- and walked six in four innings. Josh Naylor added a ninth-inning homer for the Guardians, who have dropped three of four after winning five straight.

McKenzie opened the game with walks to Anthony Volpe and Soto. Cleveland's Andres Gimenez then failed to touch second during a potential double play and made an errant throw to first, loading the bases. Rizzo followed with an RBI single to center field. Giancarlo Stanton then drew a bases-loaded walk. McKenzie got Gleyber Torres to foul out to the catcher and Alex Verdugo to hit into an inning-ending double play.

In the fourth, McKenzie walked Torres and Verdugo to open the inning. Two batters later, Volpe lined a two-out RBI single. Soto then hit a 3-0 slider over the wall in left-center to give the Yankees a 6-0 lead.

New York added on in the fifth thanks to Oswaldo Cabrera's run-scoring double down the right-field line. Austin Wells followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 8-0 before Florial's homer in the bottom of the frame.

The Yankees placed third baseman Jon Berti on the 10-day injured list with a left adductor strain.