Juan Soto was not in the starting lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Oakland Athletics because he was still suffering from inflammation in his knee, but was used as a substitute.

With runners on the corners in a 1-1 game in the 10th inning, manager Aaron Boone called on Soto to come in and score a run. Although the runner on third base scored on a passed ball, Soto hit a double to the opposite field, giving the Yankees another run en route to the team’s 4-2 victory.

“(Soto) got by me late in the game and I felt like he was an option,” Boone said after the game. “Once we got first and third base, I wanted to take my chance right there.”

The Yankees outfielder was initially in the starting lineup but was taken off the roster hours before the first pitch. Boone said X-rays of Soto’s knee were negative, but the team is not overly concerned that this could be a long-term problem.

Soto suffered the knee injury while making a sliding catch in foul territory during Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners. Soto slid and caught the fly ball, but his right knee slammed into the wall. After a moment of doubled over in pain and being tended to by Yankees trainers, he remained in the game.

Following the Yankees’ win, New York remains four games ahead of the Orioles for first place in the AL East after Baltimore won earlier that day, but the Yankees’ magic number to win the division is now five.