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Judge's homerless streak reaches career-high 16 games, Yanks beat Red Sox 2-1 on Soto's hit in 10th

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Judge's homerless streak reaches career-high 16 games, Yanks beat Red Sox 2-1 on Soto's hit in 10th
Sport

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Judge's homerless streak reaches career-high 16 games, Yanks beat Red Sox 2-1 on Soto's hit in 10th

2024-09-13 12:32 Last Updated At:12:41

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto hit a game-ending single leading off the 10th inning to lift the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 2-1 Thursday night as Aaron Judge’s homerless streak stretched to a career-high 16 games.

With pinch-runner Jon Berti on second as the automatic runner, Soto reached out for a sinker on the outside corner and grounded a single against Josh Winckowski (4-2) just past the glove shortstop Trevor Story, who tried for a diving, backhand grab.

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New York Yankees' Juan Soto reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22), top, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22), top, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs to first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs to first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe, left, and Aaron Judge, right, douse Juan Soto, center, after he hit the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe, left, and Aaron Judge, right, douse Juan Soto, center, after he hit the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, right, slides safely into second base past New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, right, slides safely into second base past New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong, right, ducks as he is almost hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong, right, ducks as he is almost hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres (25), center, celebrates after his home run with Juan Soto, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres (25), center, celebrates after his home run with Juan Soto, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s one-hop throw was up the third-base line and Berti slid in head first ahead of catcher Connor Wong's attempt for a lunging tag to give the Yankees back-to-back walk-off wins for the first time since May 8 and 9, 2021, against Washington.

Soto was mobbed in the infield and said he will remember his first walk-off hit for the Yankees.

“The crowd, my teammates and everybody, I mean, those guys they were running hard on me,” he said. “I just did not know where to go.”

Judge, who leads the major leagues with 51 homers and 126 RBIs, went 1 for 4 with a single and is batting .207 (12 for 58) with 21 strikeouts since Aug. 26. He went homerless in 15 games from Aug. 17 through Sept. 2 in 2017.

He hit a first-inning drive that Wilyer Abreu caught in front of the right-field wall and a 104.7 mph grounder that third baseman Rafael Devers grabbed with a spinning stop and turned into an inning-ending double play in the fifth.

“Homers, even for guys like him, they still come in bunches and you’re going to have those stretches,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I guess it’s amazing that he has avoided those. But, I mean, that’s just a testament to how good of a hitter and how much power he has but I thought he had good at-bats tonight and almost got one."

Gleyber Torres homered off Cooper Criswell leading off the first and Danny Jansen went deep against Nestor Cortes starting the fifth. Acquired from Toronto in late July, Jansen hit his third home run for Boston and first since Aug. 10.

New York (85-62) won for the fifth time in seven games and opened a two-game AL East lead over second-place Baltimore (83-64), the Yankees’ largest since before play on Aug. 27. The Yankees have won seven straight series openers.

Boston (74-73) dropped 4 1/2 games back of Minnesota (78-68) for the final AL wild card.

“You have to stay positive," Devers told reporters. "You can come tomorrow and win then win the next two games and you’re right back there again in the fire. Keep playing and stay positive.”

Clay Holmes (3-5), demoted from his closer’s role after blowing 12 saves in 41 chances, retired the last two batters of the 10th as Nestor Cortes and four relievers combined on a four-hitter.

Anthony Volpe left the bases loaded with inning-ending flyouts in the fourth and sixth.

Coming off his first relief appearance in three years, 4 1/3 hitless innings to win at the Chicago Cubs, Cortes allowed three hits and three walks in five innings with nine strikeouts. He has allowed 24 homers this year, eight more than previous career high.

“There’s always that chip on my shoulder as far as belonging here, belonging in the big leagues, and I never want to lose that edge," he said. "That's what keeps me going.”

Cortes was accepting of the bullpen role but had complained after the Sept. 7 game in Chicago, saying: “Obviously I was upset. I felt like I’ve been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here. Once (Gerrit) Cole went down, they picked me to be the opening day starter -- not necessarily the No. 1, but the opening day starter. I had to switch my routine there. ... “Now they do this.”

He said after facing the Red Sox: “I know last week I might have came off like I was asking for too much, but I got my point across and at the end of the day, I’m going to do whatever this team needs for me to do to win, whether it's throwing 40 pitches out of ‘pen or 70 pitches out of the ’pen or starting a full game."

Criswell gave up four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Rafaela’s 102.3 mph liner leading off the eighth knocked off the glove of reliever Tim Hill, who picked up the ball with his bare left hand and threw to first for the out.

Giancarlo Stanton, in a 1-for-26 slide, blooped an opposite-field single into right in the fourth. Rizzo was hit by a pitch for the 220th time.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred met separately with both teams before the game.

Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett and Lynn Williams of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic women's soccer team were honored on the field before the national anthem.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: RF Rob Refsnyder was scratched because of right wrist discomfort and replaced by Romy González, then pinch ran in the 10th inning.

UP NEXT

Boston All-Star RHP Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24) is scheduled to start Friday on eight days' rest after getting pushed back because of soreness. RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.23) makes his second start for the Yankees since recovering from a strained right lat muscle.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Yankees' Juan Soto reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, reacts after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22), top, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22), top, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs to first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs to first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe, left, and Aaron Judge, right, douse Juan Soto, center, after he hit the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe, left, and Aaron Judge, right, douse Juan Soto, center, after he hit the winning base hit during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, right, slides safely into second base past New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, right, slides safely into second base past New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong, right, ducks as he is almost hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong, right, ducks as he is almost hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres (25), center, celebrates after his home run with Juan Soto, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres (25), center, celebrates after his home run with Juan Soto, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

LONDON (AP) — A British teen pleaded guilty Monday to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 other people in what a prosecutor said was a “meticulously planned” stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, entered the surprise plea as jury selection had been expected to begin at the start of his trial in Liverpool Crown Court.

The July 29 stabbings sent shock waves across the U.K. and led to a week of widespread rioting across parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was born in Wales.

The attack occurred on the first day of summer vacation when the little girls at the Hart Space, a sanctuary hidden behind a row of houses, were in a class to learn yoga and dance to the songs of Taylor Swift. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, intruded and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.

“This was an unspeakable attack — one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness," Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said. “A day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.”

Prosecutors haven’t said what they believe led Rudakubana — who was days shy of his 18th birthday — to commit the atrocities, but Doyle said that it was clear he had a “a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence.”

Rudakubana had consistently refused to speak in court and did so once again when asked to identify himself at the start of the proceedings. But he broke his silence when he was read the 16-count indictment and asked to enter a plea, replying “guilty” to each charge.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and additional charges related to possessing the poison ricin and for having an al-Qaida manual.

Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday, Justice Julian Goose said.

Defense lawyer Stanley Reiz said that he would present information to the judge about Rudakubana's mental health that may be relevant to his sentence.

The surviving victims and family members of those killed were absent in court, because they had expected to arrive Tuesday for opening statements.

Goose asked the prosecutor to apologize on his behalf that they weren't present to hear Rudakubana plead guilty.

He pleaded guilty to murdering Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6.

Eight other girls, ranging in age from 7 to 13, were wounded, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, who worked in a business next door and intervened. Fifteen other girls, as young as 5, were at the class but uninjured. Under a court order, none of the surviving girls can be named.

Hayes, who was stabbed and seriously wounded, said he still had flashbacks to the attack and was “hugely upset at the time that I wasn’t able to do more.”

“But I did what I could in the circumstances,” he told Sky News. “I’m grateful to be here, and by all accounts I’ll make a full recovery, at least physically. … I’m going to be OK and others won’t be, and that’s really where I I think the focus of attention should be.”

Police said the stabbings weren’t classified as acts of terrorism because the motive wasn’t known.

Several months after his arrest at the scene of the crime, Rudakubana was charged with additional counts for production of a biological toxin, ricin and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism for having the manual in a document on his computer.

Police said they found the evidence during a search of his family's home in a neighboring village.

The day after the killings — and shortly after a peaceful vigil for the victims — a violent group attacked a mosque near the crime scene and pelted police officers with bricks and bottles and set fire to police vehicles.

Rioting then spread to dozens of other towns over the next week when groups made up mostly of men mobilized by far-right activists on social media clashed with police during violent protests and attacked hotels housing migrants.

More than 1,200 people were arrested for the disorder and hundreds have been jailed for up to nine years in prison.

In this Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appears on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to killing three young girls and wounded 10 other people in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

In this Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appears on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to killing three young girls and wounded 10 other people in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

People queue at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

People queue at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

FILE - Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

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