Juan Soto puts on epic three-homer in Yankees’ win over lowly White Sox

CHICAGO — What can’t Juan Soto do?

Before Tuesday night, the short list included hitting three home runs in one game or even slugging one at Guaranteed Rate Field (albeit in six career games there).

The Yankees star killed two birds with one stone — and three baseballs with three swings — on Tuesday night, crushing three homers to support Nestor Cortes’ seven shutout innings on the way to a 4-1 win over the White Sox.

“It’s really fun,” Soto said with a chuckle. “It’s really cool to see it and even better to get the win out of it.”

Nestor Cortes pitches seven-inning scoreless gem in Yankees’ win

Soto had a chance to hit a fourth homer in the ninth inning, but he did not see any pitches in the strike zone and was forced to settle for a walk.

“That’s why he’s the greatest hitter in the game,” Aaron Judge said. “You leave a pitch in the zone, he’ll do damage, but if you don’t throw to him, he’ll let the next guy up there do his thing.”

“I call [Judge] the greatest hitter in the world,” Soto later responded. “Look at his numbers, he’s just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances a little bit better. When you’re hitting in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. So he’s the greatest one.”

The White Sox threatened to spoil the night after Cortes left the game, pushing across one run in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr. before putting the first two batters on in the ninth against Tommy Kahnle.

But, with Clay Holmes unavailable after throwing 45 pitches on Sunday, Jake Cousins came in to save the day by nailing down the final three outs and leaving the bases loaded.

Jake Cousins picks up first career save in Yankees’ win: ‘really special’

On a day that began with Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the MRI tube, revealing a UCL injury — the severity of which remains to be determined — the Yankees (71-50) were able to end the night on a high note while moving a half-game ahead of the Orioles for first place in the AL East.

The win also erased some of the stench that came from Monday’s ugly 12-2 loss to the historically bad White Sox (29-92), setting up a rubber game on Wednesday.

Soto, who now has five home runs in his last three games, went the other way for his first two home runs of the night before pulling a left-on-left long ball in the seventh inning. The three home runs — traveling a combined 1,182 feet — gave him 33 on the season, two shy of his career-high.

“Just a great night by a great player,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I dream of being where he’s at in the batter’s box. That’s about as good as it gets.”

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And while Judge’s monster season may be overshadowing Soto’s incredible walk year to a degree, that’s not necessarily the case for those who get to see it up close.

“I don’t know, because I feel like in watching Juan, I’m watching one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen too,” Boone said. “And then I get to watch Aaron right behind him.”

Soto provided all the support Cortes needed as the lefty delivered seven huge innings — despite entering the night with a 7.49 ERA over his last seven starts — for the Yankees, who desperately needed some length to give their taxed bullpen a breather. He became the first Yankees starter to complete six innings since July 28, never mind seven (July 22) — both by Carlos Rodon.

And while pitching that deep Tuesday night meant he was busy taking care of his own business when Soto went deep each time, Cortes still got a thrill out of it.

“Today I was in the tunnel, so I just heard the screams from our bench — ‘Ohhh!’ So I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a homer,’ ” Cortes said. “And obviously Juan Soto was hitting for all three of them. It’s impressive. Even not being able to watch, but watching our teammates scream with how impressed they are by what he does. It’s cool to have him on our team.”

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