Yankees Rally From Five-Run Deficit to Stun Blue Jays
NEW YORK — Facing elimination and a five-run hole, the New York Yankees staged one of their most dramatic postseason comebacks in recent history Tuesday night. Aaron Judge launched a 100 mph inside fastball off the left-field foul pole for a game-tying, three-run home run that ignited a 9-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. The win keeps New York’s season alive and forces a crucial Game 4 on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
“I was just saying, ‘Hit the f—ing foul pole,’” recalled Cody Bellinger, who watched Judge’s blast from the on-deck circle. When it did, the Bronx erupted. Judge’s homer — one of the most improbable swings of the postseason — marked the turning point for a Yankees team that had been outscored 23-8 through the first two games of the series. Down but not defeated, they clawed back with relentless offense and dominant bullpen pitching.
Historic Comeback Fueled by Power and Poise
The Yankees trailed 6-1 after just three innings, with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushing his third home run of the series. Starter Carlos Rodón exited early, forcing New York’s bullpen to cover 6⅔ innings — and they delivered. Devin Williams threw 1⅓ scoreless frames, extending his shutout streak to 12⅓ innings since September 7, while David Bednar secured the final five outs for the save.
Offensively, New York responded in waves. Two runs in the third cut the deficit before Judge’s towering shot in the fourth tied it at 6-6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. then drilled a go-ahead single in the fifth, and Bellinger’s double — aided by two Toronto defensive miscues — stretched the lead. For the first time all series, the Yankees’ lineup looked alive.
Judge’s Signature October Moment
Aaron Judge finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, two diving catches, and a postseason-defining home run — his sixth career blast in an elimination game, tying David Ortiz’s all-time record. The two-time AL MVP now boasts a .500 playoff batting average and a staggering 1.304 OPS this postseason. “It was a best-player-in-the-game type performance,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “When your back’s against the wall, you need your leader to step up — and that’s exactly what he did.”
Judge himself credited the moment to the magic of Yankee Stadium. “You just never know with the wind if it’s going to push it foul,” he said. “I guess a couple ghosts out there in Monument Park helped keep that one fair.” His teammates agreed. “We all went over the video about 10 times,” Chisholm said. “It was unbelievable.”
Series Shifts Toward Decisive Stretch
The victory marked the first time the Yankees had overcome a five-run deficit in a playoff elimination game since 2010. For the Blue Jays, it was their first loss in 40 games this season when leading by at least five runs. New York now faces another elimination scenario in Game 4, with rookie Cam Schlittler set to start against Toronto’s bullpen.
“For us, it’s about living to fight another day,” Bellinger said after the win. “That’s all you can really do in this game.” The Yankees will look to harness the same fire on Wednesday — one more victory away from forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 back in Toronto.