How Yankees' Gleyber Torres matched Alfonso Soriano's No. 9 spot greatness

by Felix Pantaleon

Yankees’ budding star Gleyber Torres matched fellow second baseman Alfonso Soriano’s team No. 9-hitter home run record set in 2001.

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NEW YORK — In 2001, then-rookie Alfonso Soriano hit 11 home runs out of the No. 9 spot, a single-season team record.

Soriano went on to hit 18 bombs as the Yankees raced away with the American League East crown before losing in the World Series to the Diamondbacks in a heartbreaking Game 7.

On Saturday, rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres matched Soriano — who went on to have a pretty nice career, by the way — in the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

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In the third inning, Torres, just 21 years old, hit a solo shot to cut the Mets’ lead to 3-1.

It wasn’t just his 11th home run of the season. It was his 11th home run from the No. 9 spot — a place where manager Aaron Boone has hit him in 32 of 41 games this season.

Torres also became the youngest Yankees player to homer against the Mets and the fastest second baseman to reach 11 career home runs.

Not to be outdone, fellow rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar rocked a two-run shot that tied the game at 3-all in the sixth inning before Aaron Judge’s eighth-inning solo shot gave them the lead for good.

It was Anduar’s eighth home run of the season, tying him with teammate Tyler Austin for the second most home runs by an AL rookie this season.

Manager Aaron Boone credited the pair for “making the necessary adjustments in big situations.”

“It’s what’s been special about those guys so far,” Boone said. “Those guys have been obviously talked about a lot, their ability. But I think it’s a credit to both of those guys and who they are and their makeup and a credit to the organization for I think preparing them very well for the minor leagues so that when this opportunity has come now, they’re ready for it. You feel great about both players obviously in the toughest of situations.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.