The New York Yankees entered Game 3 of the ALDS needing to deliver in front of their home crowd, facing elimination against a Toronto Blue Jays team that had scored 23 combined runs in the first two games.
The Yankees did just that, battling back from a five-run deficit to earn a 9-6 win and extend the series to a fourth game. They also made some history in the process.
Down early, the Yankees' offense finally showed some fight. With the victory, the Yankees became the first team in MLB postseason history to erase a five-run deficit and win a game while on the verge of being swept. Teams had been 0-38 all-time when trailing 5+ runs and avoiding a sweep, according to OptaSTATS.
The @Yankees are the first team in MLB postseason history to be down by 5+ runs and in danger of being swept and come back to win the game.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 8, 2025
Teams had been 0-38 all-time when trailing by 5+ runs and trying to avoid a multi-game series sweep. pic.twitter.com/wDmDLxYnjL
Judge was the player of the game, as the Yankees captain hit a crucial three-run home run off Louis Varland in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game.
Aaron James Judge #AllRise pic.twitter.com/AoIxdi3z8i
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2025
Judge has been on fire this series, going 7-11 (.636 batting average) with five RBI, three walks and only two strikeouts.
After allowing 14 earned runs in the first two games, the Yankees' bullpen did its job in Game 3. After Carlos Rodon failed to give the Yankees length, allowing six earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings, the bullpen came in to pick up the slack, pitching 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out nine and walking none.
Having no day off to rest, the bullpen will need to muster whatever energy it has left to be ready in Game 4 if Yankees' rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler can't replicate the performance he had against the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round, pitching eight innings and striking out 12. With the momentum now on the Yankees' side and their offense hitting its stride, Game 4 could get interesting.
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