NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt soaked in the atmosphere Saturday at Yankee Stadium after Mets leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor led off the middle game of this weekend’s Subway Series by popping up to third baseman Jorbit Vivas.

According to The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner, Aaron Boone made his way through the ballpark's bowels while the Mets took batting practice and the buzz built inside Yankee Stadium. In the tunnel between the clubhouses, with pallets of water and hot dog buns stored against the walls, Boone carried the rings in a Yankees shopping bag.

Juan Soto made an emotionally charged return to Yankee Stadium on Friday where he was greeted by a cacophony of boos and his new team, the New York Mets, succumbed to a 6-2 loss against his old team,