WASHINGTON – Juan Soto has had a few accomplishments to brag about. He is the youngest wrestling champion in history in the National League, won a World Series, was second in the vote for Rookie of the Year and won much support for the Most Valuable Player of 2021 award.
But he had never hit an end-of-game hit. He did so on Tuesday, the day the nationals finally started the season, five days later than planned, following a coronavirus outbreak involving 11 players.
Soto led the way with one in the ninth, and the national teams, still decimated by COVID-19, gathered and defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-5.
Left-handed rescuer Will Smith took the mound from the bottom of the ninth inning and immediately allowed one to Victor Robles, who now serves as leader.
Then Smith hit Trea Turner with a pitch. Soto, the 2020 national league champion, followed after a 4-0 win.
He saw three balls in a row.
“I would have been very upset if he had missed a 3-0 strike,” said Dave Martinez, Puerto Rico’s national team manager.
Soto didn’t. Rather, he struck a line toward the center.
He threw down his helmet before being congratulated by his teammates, who ran out of the cave and found him near the middle to hug him and throw water at him.
The 4,801 fans were also celebrated. There was no crowd in the gardens of the National Park from Game 5 of the 2019 World Series.
The brave was frustrated instead.
“We hate to see him in that situation,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose Braves are 0-4. – That boy is special.
For Bravi, the Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. 5-2 with two marked runs and three RBIs. Dominican Marcell Ozuna 3-1. Sunday Cristian Pache 4-1.
For the national team, the Dominicans Víctor Robles 3-1 with two goals scored, Soto 5-1 with an RBI, Starlin Castro 4-1. Venezuelan Hernán Pérez 3-1 with a goal scored. Cuban Yadiel Hernández 1-0.