Aaron Judge wasn’t ready to let the Yankees’ season end — and he made sure of it with one of the greatest postseason performances of his career. Judge hit a game-tying three-run homer, drove in four runs, and made a series of clutch defensive and base running plays as the New York Yankees rallied from five runs down to stun the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Tuesday night in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
The victory kept New York’s season alive and cut Toronto’s series lead to 2-1, with Game 4 set for Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees, facing elimination after dropping the first two games in Toronto, stormed back from a 6-1 deficit with eight unanswered runs, capitalizing on two costly Blue Jays errors and a relentless offensive surge led by their captain.
“This team’s got heart,” Judge said. “We’ve been through a lot this year, and I wasn’t going to let this be our last game.”
Judge finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs scored, and an intentional walk as fans serenaded him with chants of “MVP! MVP!” He’s now 7-for-11 (.636) in the series with five RBIs and three walks — a blistering turnaround from his prior postseason struggles.
New York starter Carlos Rodón was roughed up early, giving up six runs on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings. Toronto’s offense seemed poised for a sweep, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a two-run homer in the first and Anthony Santander added a two-run single in the third. Ernie Clement collected four hits, including the RBI single that brought Guerrero flying home on a diving slide to make it 6-1.
But the Yankees refused to fold. Consecutive doubles by Trent Grisham and Judge to open the third inning sparked the rally. After Judge extended a rundown long enough for Cody Bellinger to advance to third — allowing him to score on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly — the comeback was on.
Stanton, who also had an RBI single in the first following an error by former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa, trimmed the deficit to 6-3.
An inning later, with two on and one out, Addison Barger dropped a wind-blown popup by Austin Wells for another Toronto error. That set the stage for Judge’s moment.
Facing reliever Louis Varland and down 0-2, Judge turned on a 100 mph inside fastball and kept it fair — clanging it high off the left-field foul pole for a game-tying three-run homer that sent Yankee Stadium into bedlam.
“It’s an amazing swing,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That’s shades of Edgar Martínez or Manny Ramirez — keeping that high-and-tight one fair. Just a great piece of hitting on a nasty pitch.”
Judge’s night wasn’t done. In the fifth, he made a full-extension diving catch with a runner on second, robbing Bo Bichette of extra bases and preserving the tie.
Moments later, Jazz Chisholm Jr. put the Yankees ahead for good with a solo homer off Varland — New York’s first lead of the entire series. Amed Rosario followed with a double and scored on Wells’ two-out single to make it 8-6.
In the sixth, after Toronto intentionally walked Judge with one out and nobody on — a move that drew boos and respect in equal measure — Ben Rice lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home, extending the lead to 9-6.
After Rodón’s early struggles, the Yankees bullpen was flawless. Tim Hill earned the win by recording four key outs, and David Bednar closed the door with 1 2/3 perfect innings for his second playoff save. The five relievers combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits.
The victory marked the Yankees’ largest comeback ever in an elimination game, and tied for the second-biggest in franchise postseason history.
Toronto, meanwhile, suffered its first loss all season when leading by four or more runs — a painful missed opportunity to advance to its first AL Championship Series since 2016.
The Yankees turn to rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler for Game 4 on Wednesday night, following his dominant Wild Card Series performance against Boston. Toronto is expected to counter with a bullpen game as they look to finish off New York and avoid a decisive Game 5 back home.
For now, though, the Bronx belongs to Aaron Judge — and the Yankees’ season lives on.
