The New York Yankees silenced the raucous Rogers Centre crowd on a sunny Sunday afternoon, securing an 8-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The unexpected hero? Juan Soto, whose pre-game batting practice power surge foreshadowed a triumphant return to the lineup and ignited the Yankees' offensive explosion. Aaron Judge recalled the moment that changed the game's trajectory after the win. "Just right before the game, I heard him, you know, hitting in the cage, and it sounded pretty loud," he told YES Network. "So I figured that was a good sign." That "loud sound" translated into a thunderous two-run homer in the very first inning, Soto's 31st of the season, giving the Yankees an early lead they would never relinquish. Soto's presence, initially uncertain because of a bruised right hand, proved to be the catalyst for the Yankees' offensive onslaught. His first-inning blast not only set the tone but also provided a crucial cushion for Gerrit Cole, who was eager to rebound from a previous subpar performance against the Mets. "Getting those two runs and allowing our ace to go out and have a little bit of a lead so he can go out and focus on making his pitches and not trying to do too much," Judge explained, emphasizing the psychological impact of Soto's early contribution. Cole, armed with a two-run lead, delivered a masterful performance and showcased his full arsenal of pitches. He struck out 6 batters over 5 innings, allowing only 3 hits, a run, and a walk while hitting 2 batters. https://twitter.com/TalkinYanks/status/1807470218681135384 His cutter, slider, and curveball were particularly sharp, keeping the Blue Jays' hitters off balance throughout his outing.