Bob DeChlara-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees got a blowout win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night to begin a three-game series at Fenway Park, but that wasn’t the most impressive feat of the night.
Alfonso Soriano knocked in four runs, including a three-run homer, tying an MLB record for most RBIs in a four-game span. Soriano’s 18 RBIs since August 13 has jump-started the Yankees’ offense and given new life to their once-depleted lineup.
When the Yankees signed Soriano in late July, he was having a somewhat pedestrian year. Desperate for run support, they agreed to bring him in with the hopes that he could produce even the slightest bit of offense. So far, they’ve gotten much more than they bargained for. They’ve won five of their last six games thanks in large part to an increase in run support.
Though his unprecedented hot streak will inevitably end at some point, Soriano has played a big part in getting the Yankees back on track and back in the hunt for a playoff spot. There’s a renewed life force in Yankee Stadium with the Yankees playing well and Soriano on a tear, and that’s a good thing for baseball.
The Yankees currently sit 7.5 games out of the division lead and six games out of a Wild Card spot, but they play divisional rivals in 10 out of the final 13 series of the year. They’ll have to earn it, but a playoff spot is entirely possible. If Soriano can continue to swing the bat the way he has been over the past few days and the offense can stay alive down the stretch, the Yankees could be in for a close finish in September.
Jesse Schwartz is a Writer at www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
