Aaron Judge's clutch bomb revives New York Yankees in ALDS vs Toronto Blue Jays

NEW YORK – There are only so many adjectives you can use to describe Aaron Judge before it becomes repetitive and you truly understand what people are trying to say about one of the best players in the game.

But the most fitting one to describe the incomparable Aaron Judge on Tuesday?

Clutch.

The Captain saved the day once again for the New York Yankees and the Bronx Bombers live to fight another day with a comeback 9-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the American League Division Series to get within 2-1 in the best-of-five series.

But this time, Judge got some help from a shoddy Toronto defense, a bullpen that was surprisingly strong, and manager Aaron Boone’s decision to trot out the same lineup as the first two games despite being outscored 23-8. He also made two outstanding plays in the outfield to help keep Toronto batters off base.

Aaron Judge's clutch bomb revives New York Yankees in ALDS vs Toronto Blue Jays — Aaron Judge flips his bat after his Game 3 home run.

But there is no doubt that the rally started with Judge in the fourth inning after the Yankees spotted the Blue Jays a five-run lead. He changed the game, crushing a 0-2 100-mph pitch from reliever Louis Varland – who was charged with the loss – off the left field foul pole for a three-run shot that tied the score at six. It was an error by third baseman Addison Barger and a walk, allowing the runners to reach base, to give Judge the chance at a series-changing moment.

Boone said he could only think of two players, Edgar Martinez and Manny Ramirez, as right-handed batters would be able to handle Varland’s pitch that Judge hit out.

“It was the best-player-in-the-game type performance,” Boone said. “It was special when obviously, needless to say, we’re backs against the wall and then some in a Game 3 situation. Just a great swing against Varland who’s obviously been a huge weapon for them down the stretch and we saw in Toronto.”

“He’s the real deal, and as beloved a player as I’ve ever been around by his teammates. They all admire him, look up to him, respect him, want his approval, and that’s just a credit to who Aaron is and how he goes about things.”

Judge had another outstanding regular season with 54 home runs and 114 RBI, while leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. He has also been productive in the postseason, hitting .500 and getting on base almost 58 percent of his at-bats, including 7-for-11 with five RBIs and three walks in the ALDS.

“Tonight was special, but there’s still more work to be done,” Judge said. “Hopefully we have some more cool moments like this the rest of the postseason. We’ve got another big game tomorrow night. Maybe we can do something special tomorrow night and talk to all of you all one more time before we head back up north.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he hopes Judge has some bad food or a bad night’s sleep to keep him off the field, but he is relying on his pitching staff to get him out in big spots. Instead, it was the Yankee bullpen pulling the tricks, with five relievers combining for a measly three hits and no runs over the last 6 ⅔ innings.

“Give him credit, man, that was a ridiculous swing. We’re always aware where he is, and I think they’ve done a good job of putting good players in front and behind him in the lineup too,” Schneider said of Judge. “So there’s times where you just don’t want him to swing. There’s times where you say, okay, let’s get after him. I’ll take 100, 101 with some nasty breaking stuff executed any day of the week, and it just didn’t work out today.”

Judge, who went 3-for-4 and scored three times in the Yankees’ largest comeback ever in an elimination game, consulted with Giancarlo Stanton in the dugout before facing Varland.

But Varland blew him away with his first two pitches, a 90 mph knuckle curve and a 100 mph four-seam fastball, but then came back with the biggest mistake of the night.

“Big G saw him in Toronto. I hadn’t seen Louis since he was with the Twins and was a starter,” Judge said. “I wanted a brush up. I’ve seen all the videos, seen all the appearances, but it’s a difference when you step in the box and see him live.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Judge home run revives Yankees’ vs. Blue Jays in ALDS