OAKLAND, Calif. Juan Sotos cost him a start Friday, but not the entire night. After to the Yankees lineup Friday because of swelling and sorene s in his left knee that he slammed against the wall at T-Mobile Park the day before, Soto showed Moritz Wagner Jersey enough improvement to enter the game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning. In a surprise to no one, Soto came through in the dramatic moment, drilling an RBI double the other way that drove in what turned out to be the winning run in the at the Coliseum. Juan Soto hits a pinch-hit RBI double scoring Oswaldo Cabrera during the 10th inning of the Yankees 2-1 win over the As on Sept. 20, 2024. Getty Images We tried the knee early before the game, Soto said. We went to the cage, hit a little bit. We tried out the gym, too, we did some squats and stuff. It reacted pretty well. So throughout the game I was feeling good, it wasnt sore or anything after all the work we put in. Thats when I knew I had a good chance to be an option. Explore More X-rays were negative on Sotos knee, but he still had some swelling and sorene s Friday that, following pregame treatment and exercises, led the Yankees to play it cautiously and keep him on the bench, at least to start the night. But Soto came to Aaron Boone around mid-game after getting his work in and told his manager that he could be an option for a pinch-hit spot if the Yankees needed it. Boone said he wasnt going to do it if there was just a man on second in the 10th, figuring the As would just walk him, but once the Yankees put runners on the corners, Soto walked out for his big moment. Juan Soto delivered a big hit in the 10th inning of the Yankees extra-inning win over the As. Getty Images I know we clinched [a playoff spot], but at the end of the day, the goal is to win the division, Soto said. We are really close [to] that. I didnt think about any day off or anything like that, but were trying to be smart too and think about October. Soto appeared to move well in running to second base. He said he had a little bit of sorene s, but not as bad as it was this morning. Whether he gets back into the lineup Saturday depends on how he wakes up, he said. With just over a week left in the regular season, as they try to pin down the AL East and head into October on a high note, the Yankees could ill afford being without Soto for long. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Not overly [concerned about it long-term], Boone said before the game. Even in talking to [director of sports medicine and rehab Mike Schuk], its not something hes concerned with long-term here. Just a day-to-day thing. In hindsight, the Yankees gladly would have taken the ball dropping for a foul trailing the Mariners 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh rather than Soto putting his body at risk, especially at this point in the season. But that is easier said than done for Soto, who also has plenty at stake le s than two months away from hitting free agency. Juan Soto crashed into the wall during the Yankees 3-2 lo s to the Mariners on Sept. 19, 2024. AP Boone also said that Soto may have saved himself from something worse by sliding into the wall. More than you know, guys do a good job of knowing how to protect themselves and play smart in certain situations, Boone said. I actually think him getting down the way he did protected him a little bit. Obviously he bruised it and hes out today, but the way he did it actually avoided a bad situation. Robin Lopez Jersey