Juan Soto homers in his return to San Diego, as the Yankees put on a complete power display

SAN DIEGO – Upon his return to Petco Park, slugger Juan Soto wasn’t sure how the Padres crowd might react to seeing him in-person as a Yankee.

“I’m expecting anything tonight,’’ Soto said before Friday night’s game.

After Anthony Volpe's leadoff triple extended his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games, Soto was overwhelmingly booed by the large crowd - which then cheered loudly as he struck out looking at a 1-2 sinker by Yu Darvish.

His second at-bat - that was a different story.

Soto stirred the crowd into a hyper mix of boos and cheers by destroying a 1-2 sinker, sending it far over the right field wall for his 14th homer of the year - a third-inning, two-run shot punctuated by a twirl of his bat.

Following that 423-foot blast, the Yankees kept hammering away at Darvish, in an 8-0 win before 43,505 fans - with a vocal portion rooting for the visitors.

Soto went 2-for-4 with a walk and a double, backing Carlos Rodon (six scoreless innings), and helping improve the Yanks' AL-best record to 36-17.

"Electric. Fun, definitely fun,'' said Soto, who kicked off a sensational power display. "It was pretty cool, seeing the guys come through.''

Following Soto's blast, Aaron Judge made it back-to-back homers with his 16th (his third in three games), a tremendous drive to the second deck in left, estimated at 409 feet.

Alex Verdugo barely missed making it three straight homers, with a 356-foot single off the left field wall that preceded Giancarlo Stanton's 13th homer of the year - a prodigious 417-foot drive into the Western Metal Supply Building's third deck in left.

"That escalated quick,'' said Stanton. "That's what we're capable of.''

Gleyber Torres led off the fourth inning with his fourth homer of the year, a 411-foot shot that made it 7-0.

Leading off the seventh inning against Stephen Kolek, Soto's bid for a second homer Friday ended with a leaping catch at the wall by right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

Before the game, Soto smiled and said he hoped Padres pitchers would show him "a little mercy'' this weekend.

Darvish was riding a career-best 25-inning scoreless streak entering Friday and he was seeking his 201st win pro win between Japan and MLB, with Hiroki Kuroda (203) and Hideo Nomo (201) heading the list.

Yankees third baseman Jon Berti exited in the ninth inning with a left calf injury, collapsing a few feet out of the batter's box on a groundball. Berti was headed for an MRI, and the Yanks were likely to call up an infielder than activate DJ LeMahieu before his expected Tuesday return.

Heading toward free agency, Juan Soto "open'' to all discussions

Already accustomed to seeing Soto raise his game in the spotlight, Judge called Friday's performance "just another Friday night for Juan.''

Soto got a big kick out of the alternating "Let's Go Yankees!'' and "Let's Go Padres!'' chants, saying "it was great. Great energy out there.''

The game’s most notable current player in his free agent walk year, Soto is enjoying life as a Yankee, but he’s also tuned to the business side.

“We’re going to be open to listening to anybody and everybody,’’ said Soto, likely to head to the open market this November. “We’re not closing any doors. Whoever wants to talk about deals, I’m open.’’

Made for New York: Juan Soto's elite skills are worthy of long-term commitment by Yankees

Soto, 25, could command a $500-plus million long-term deal, but at those prices it might be a limited pool of potential suitors beyond the Yankees and Mets.

“That’s going to be in the future,’’ Soto said of his pending free agency. “Right now, I’m part of the Yankees (and) my goals are to win a championship.

“I’m more than happy where I’m at,’’ said Soto, who was “expecting to be back in San Diego’’ until about week or two before the seven-player trade between the Padres and Yankees.

In the days before being traded, Soto said he was “a little uncomfortable, but in the same way, it’s just part of the business…no hard feelings or anything like that.

“(I’m) happy to be traded to an organization like the Yankees,’’ said Soto. “I’m more than happy where I am.’’

Not long after turning down a 15-year, $440 million extension by the Washington Nationals, Soto was traded to the Padres in 2022, but he batted .236 with a .778 OPS in 52 games.

Soto's 2022 Padres made it to the NL Championship Series, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Last season was major disappointment in San Diego, though Soto (.275 average, .930 OPS, 35 HR, 109 RBI) finished sixth in the NL MVP balloting and won a Silver Slugger Award.

As a Padre, "I tried hard every day, but I didn’t play at my best,'' said Soto. "That’s one of the things that I’m sad about, because I couldn't show them how great I can be.''

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Juan Soto plays his first game in San Diego as a NY Yankee