Phillies fans unleashed a torrent of boos on Juan Soto during his All-Star Game introduction on Tuesday night, but the only response they got back was a wide grin. In what was his fifth All-Star appearance, Soto went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout, all while the National League ultimately fell to the American League 4-0. Soto's lone knock was actually one of only three hits the NL managed to scrape together all night.
Boos Don't Slow Down The NL's Best
Soto started the game in left field and batted second, but his first at-bat didn't go as planned. He struck out by chasing an outside fastball against Toronto Blue Jays' ace Dylan Cease. Historically, Cease has been a tough out for Soto, who is now just 2-for-11 with five strikeouts and one home run all-time against the dominant right-hander. Even an All-Star still has guys who give them trouble, right? You just gotta grind through it.Breaking Through When It Matters
But Soto is Soto for a reason, and he absolutely knows how to adjust. He finally got the better of Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan in the fourth inning, singling up the middle to break through. That hit was huge, not just for the NL's anemic offense, but personally for Soto, who was 0-for-7 in his career against Ryan before that at-bat. His single was the only NL hit until Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong managed one in the eighth. This dude has been absolutely brilliant for the Mets in the first half, too, even after missing multiple weeks with a leg injury. He's sitting second in the NL in OPS with a ridiculous .967 and is tied for seventh in homers with 21 dingers. That's serious production, man. The Mets are back in action Thursday against those very same Phillies at 7:10 EDT on ESPN. You know Soto's going to be ready for Round Two against that Philly crowd.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.