Blue Jays vs Yankees: Judge’s Rally Sends Yankees Past Blue Jays 9–6 — ALDS Drama Shifts to New York

Aaron Judge’s three-run homer sparks a 9–6 Yankees comeback over the Blue Jays in ALDS Game 3 — full recap, player stats, series impact, how to watch & analysis.

Blue Jays vs Yankees: One-line snapshot

Aaron Judge’s dramatic three-run homer — the centerpiece of a four-RBI night — led the New York Yankees to a 9–6 comeback win over the Toronto Blue Jays in ALDS Game 3, pulling New York from the brink and setting up a Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.

Why Blue Jays – Yankees mattered

This wasn’t just another October matchup — it was the hinge moment of a best-of-five American League Division Series. With Toronto taking Games 1 and 2 at the Rogers Centre, New York faced elimination in Game 3. A win would not only keep the Yankees alive but also shift home-field momentum heading into Games 4 (and possibly 5). The Blue Jays had shown postseason punch (including early offensive explosions and strong starting pitching), while the Yankees needed a veteran-led response. The result — a late rally keyed by Aaron Judge and a big relief stint by the Bronx bullpen — rewrote the series narrative in dramatic fashion.

 

Quick scoreboard — the essentials (what readers want first)

• Final (ALDS Game 3): Yankees 9, Blue Jays 6.
• Key moment: Aaron Judge’s three-run homer in the fourth inning that tied the game and energized New York’s comeback.
• Blue Jays contributors: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered earlier and produced key RBIs while Toronto built a 6–1 lead.
• Series status: Yankees avoid sweep; Game 4 set for Yankee Stadium with the series at 2–1 in favor of Toronto.
• How to follow: Full play-by-play, boxscore and highlights are on MLB.com and ESPN’s game center.

How the game unfolded — inning-by-inning narrative

Early innings — Blue Jays jump in front

Toronto struck early and decisively. Shane Bieber’s start allowed Toronto to grab a multi-run lead, highlighted by a two-run homer from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and productive at-bats from role players that built a 6–1 advantage, creating the kind of cushion that felt decisive given New York’s must-win status.

Fourth inning — Judge’s moment changes everything

Trailing 6–1, the Yankees swung momentum in one frame. A walk and subsequent misplays helped load the bases; Aaron Judge then delivered a towering three-run home run off Blue Jays’ reliever Louis Varland that emphatically tied the game and jolted Yankee Stadium and the series outlook. It was Judge’s 17th career postseason homer and the single most important swing of the night.

Middle-to-late innings — bullpen battle & defensive miscues

After the Judge blast, New York’s bullpen locked down the middle innings while the offense continued to tack on runs. Toronto’s defense, which had been clean in earlier games, committed errors late that extended innings or allowed extra runs — a recurring theme that undermined their comeback bid. Meanwhile, Yankees relievers delivered multiple scoreless frames to preserve the lead.

Final frames — Yankees finish the job

New York’s defense and the bullpen’s length held up; David Bednar closed with five-out work to seal the victory for the Yanks. The Blue Jays fought but couldn’t erase the damage done by Judge and the situational hitting from the Bronx lineup. The win forced Game 4 and altered the pressure dynamics for the remainder of the series.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Player spotlights — who swung the series sway

Aaron Judge — the clutch catalyst

Judge was the defining figure. His three-run homer not only changed the scoreboard, it swung the psychological momentum — for fans, broadcasters and both dugouts. It was a vintage postseason Judge moment: power, timing and leadership. He finished the night with four RBIs and reasserted his status as New York’s postseason engine.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — Blue Jays’ offensive engine

Vlad Jr. continued his postseason impact with key extra-base hits and a homer that helped build Toronto’s early lead. Even in defeat his bat showed why Toronto leaned on him in high-leverage moments. Guerrero’s hot bat remains a central storyline for the series.

Bullpens — Yankees’ depth, Blue Jays’ late fragility

The Blue Jays’ bullpen had earlier shown fortitude, but tonight New York’s relief corps answered with critical scoreless innings and high-leverage outs. For Toronto, a mix of reliever inconsistency and defensive lapses created openings that New York exploited. The duel of bullpen arms will be a core focus going into Game 4.

Notable mentions — Cody Bellinger, Addison Barger & roster notes

Cody Bellinger and Addison Barger are names that have surfaced in the Blue Jays’ season narrative — Bellinger’s veteran presence and Barger’s emergence as a young bat factor into lineup construction and depth management. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s acquisition and late-season roster moves also influenced Toronto’s bench and defensive alignment. Each role player’s contribution (or miscue) had outsized effect in a tight postseason game.

Tactical & pitching analysis — why the Yankees came back

Yankees’ offensive adjustments

New York’s lineup adjusted its approach against both starters and relievers — taking walks, forcing pitchers to throw more fastballs and capitalizing on mistakes (errors and walk-loaded innings). Judge’s ability to adjust to the inner-half fastball that he turned into a foul-pole homer was an example of pitch recognition and elite timing. The Yankees also leveraged small ball and situational hitting when big swings weren’t available.

Blue Jays’ pitching — stretches of excellence, then cracks

Shane Bieber produced length that allowed Toronto to build a lead, but once New York began forcing matchups late, the Blue Jays’ relief mix gave up decisive runs. That combination — starting effectiveness but late relief breakdowns plus fielding mistakes — is the sort of pattern that can doom a team in a best-of-five format. Toronto’s manager must now decide whether to open a bullpen game or stretch arms longer in Game 4.

Defense & the small margins

Two or three marginal plays — a misplayed grounder, a throw slightly offline, a passed ball — are magnified in October. The Yankees converted those openings; the Blue Jays could not. As MLB analysts note, October baseball often comes down to execution in 120 feet of infield and the ability to protect leads.

Series implications & what’s next

• Momentum swings: New York’s win prevents an early Toronto sweep and gives the Yankees a chance to flip home-field pressure back onto the Blue Jays. Heading to Yankee Stadium, the series now offers a new strategic layer for pitching matchups and bullpen usage. (Reuters)
• Rotation & bullpen planning: Toronto may pivot to bullpen strategies or call on long relievers to extend innings; New York can ride its bullpen confidence and utilize matchup arms in high-leverage spots. Expect both managers to be conservative with pitch counts and aggressive with reliever deployment in the coming games. (ESPN.com)
• Player health & availability: Watch for updates on workloads (especially for starters who didn’t go deep) and any late scratches. Game 4’s starter declarations and bullpen statuses will be crucial for predictive models and betting markets. (CBSSports.com)

One game at a time. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/1xaf02gV5L

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2025

 

Statistical nuggets, records & notable moments

• Judge postseason power: The home run was Judge’s 17th career postseason homer — a mark that sits among the highest in MLB playoff history and underscores his legacy as a clutch postseason performer.
• Blue Jays’ early run production: Toronto’s ability to plate a five-run lead was a testament to their middle-order production and early starter command, reinforcing why they won Games 1 and 2.
• Bullpen innings: New York’s relievers combined for critical scoreless frames late — and David Bednar’s five-out save was a big-game performance that kept New York’s season alive.

(For complete play-by-play and boxscore detail consult MLB.com and ESPN’s official game pages.) (MLB.com)

Fan reaction & social media pulse

Social threads exploded with replay after replay of Judge’s long drive to left; highlight packages trended quickly on X/Twitter and YouTube. Blue Jays fans voiced frustration over late defensive plays, while Yankees fans celebrated the classic Bronx comeback. Sports talk shows and beat writers immediately pivoted to Game 4 lineup projections and how both teams should manage their arms for the possible Game 5.

Where to watch & follow Blue Jays vs Yankees (how to catch Game 4)

• United States: Playoff national windows typically run on TBS/MLB Network/FOX/ESPN depending on rights — check local listings for Game 4’s actual network and streaming partner. ESPN and MLB.com provide condensed replays. (Reuters)
• Canada: Sportsnet (or designated Canadian TV partners) carries Blue Jays postseason coverage; international streaming options vary by territory. Check Sportsnet’s schedule for exact broadcast windows. (Blue Jays Insider)
• Live updates: MLB.com’s Gameday and ESPN’s GameCenter deliver pitch-by-pitch and stat widgets for live followers. (MLB.com)

Betting & fantasy takeaways

• Betting markets: Expect volatile lines ahead of Game 4 as starting pitchers and bullpen availability are announced; sportsbooks will adjust quickly to any injuries or late scratches. Live in-play props (e.g., Judge RBI props) may have been lucrative during the fourth-inning swing. (El-Balad)
• Fantasy postseason notes: In short postseason formats, “start the hot bat” is standard: Judge and Vlad Jr. both hold high upside. Managers with daily postseason formats will follow pitch matchups closely before rostering sluggers. (ESPN.com)