Aaron Judge finally created a big moment in the postseason that can make Yankees great. However, it became less important when New York’s bullpen faltered.
Judge’s game-tying, two-run homer in the eighth inning—followed by Giancarlo Stanton’s solo shot—were overshadowed on Thursday night by a couple of lesser-known Cleveland players as the Guardians came back for a 7-5 win in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series.
Rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a two-out, pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Luke Weaver, and David Fry followed with a two-run shot in the 10th off Clay Holmes as the Guardians battled back against New York’s usually strong bullpen.
“It’s baseball. Stuff like that happens,” Judge said, standing in a quiet Yankees clubhouse. “Everyone in this room has faith in those guys.”
The Yankees made history as the first team in the postseason to be behind by multiple runs in the eighth inning or later and hit back-to-back homers to take the lead.
Judge has faced criticism for not performing well in the postseason. He came into this game hitting just .143 (3 for 21) in the playoffs and .206 (39 of 189) with 14 homers, 29 RBIs, and 72 strikeouts since his first playoff appearance in 2017.
He homered in Game 2, a shot toward Monument Park that Yankee fans hoped would be the start of more power hits. He struck out twice in Game 3 before hitting the eighth-inning homer, connecting on a 1-2 pitch from All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase.
Judge sent the right-hander’s 99 mph cutter the opposite way to right field. Initially, Judge didn’t think it would clear the park and become his 15th career postseason homer, tying him with Babe Ruth for fourth place in club history.
“I was just trying for a little single to right with Stanton behind me,” Judge said. “Off the bat, I thought it was going to go off the wall. My first thought was just to get to second base.”
From his spot in the on-deck circle, Stanton was impressed by Judge’s ability to hit Clase’s pitch so far.
“He (Clase) is a generational talent,” Stanton said. “It wasn’t a bad pitch. It was low on the black, but he does what he does.”
While the Yankees were still celebrating with Judge in the dugout, Stanton followed with his own homer to center field, giving New York a 4-3 lead and putting them just six outs away from a strong 3-0 series lead.
“You’re going to celebrate big moments all the time like that,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who hit one of New York’s most memorable postseason homers to win the 2003 ALCS. “I threw a right-fist pump, like fired up. You certainly feel the energy of a couple of shots like that.”
But for the first time this postseason, New York’s reliable bullpen did not perform well.
Yankees’ relievers had a 0.77 ERA and 23 strikeouts before Weaver and Holmes, who tied the franchise record with 13 blown saves and lost his closer role late in the regular season.
Fry’s homer marked the first runs allowed by Holmes in 13 career postseason appearances.
“I really felt like I let the team down and let myself down,” Weaver said. “It hurts more knowing how close we were to being ahead 3-0. It feels a little devastating, but they earned it. They sure earned that win tonight.”
