The Toronto Blue Jays squandered a five-run lead in a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday evening, falling to the New York Yankees 9-6 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. With this loss, the Blue Jays missed an opportunity to secure a three-game sweep and advance to the AL Championship Series for the first time in nine years.
The game shifted dramatically due to two costly errors by Toronto’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Addison Barger. Their mistakes allowed the Yankees to regain momentum, ultimately leading to a thrilling comeback. Following the errors, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit home runs off pitcher Louis Varland, sealing the Yankees’ victory and narrowing the Blue Jays’ series lead to 2-1.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a standout performance for the Blue Jays, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning off Yankees starter Carlos Rodón. He finished the night with two hits, raising his postseason batting average to an impressive .693, with three home runs and eight RBIs across the series.
Despite the early lead, the Blue Jays faced an unexpected setback. Kiner-Falefa, a former Gold Glove winner, misplayed a two-out grounder from Ben Rice, allowing him to reach first base. Subsequently, Giancarlo Stanton followed with an RBI single, cutting the Blue Jays’ lead to 6-4.
In the fourth inning, the situation worsened for Toronto. With one out and nobody on base, Austin Wells hit a pop-up to left field. Barger, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter, misjudged the wind and failed to make the catch, allowing Wells to reach second base. This mistake proved pivotal as it set the stage for Judge’s game-tying three-run homer.
Judge’s blast made history, being the first home run hit on a pitch of 99 mph or faster that was positioned 1.2 feet inside from the center of the strike zone, according to MLB Statcast. This remarkable achievement underscored the pressure the Blue Jays faced in the latter innings.
The Yankees took the lead in the fifth inning when Chisholm connected with a low and inside fastball from Varland, sending it deep into the right-field stands for a 7-6 advantage. The Blue Jays’ struggles continued when Anthony Santander, attempting a backhand catch on Cody Bellinger’s liner, fell to the ground, allowing the ball to roll to the warning track for a double.
As the series shifts to Game 4 on Wednesday night, the Blue Jays will need to refocus quickly to avoid further setbacks against the Yankees. With the series lead now at 2-1, Toronto must regain their composure in hopes of advancing to the next round of the postseason.
