Blue Jays Lose Five-Run Lead, Yankees Rally for 9-6 Victory

The Toronto Blue Jays squandered a five-run lead, allowing the New York Yankees to rally for a 9-6 victory in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday night. With this defeat, the Blue Jays’ chance for a three-game sweep and a return to the AL Championship Series for the first time in nine years was put on hold. Instead, the best-of-five series is now 2-1 in favor of Toronto, prompting a crucial Game 4 against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a standout performance for the Blue Jays, launching a two-run homer in the first inning off Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón. He finished the game with two hits, raising his impressive postseason batting average to .693, with three home runs and eight RBIs in the series. Despite Guerrero’s efforts, the Blue Jays’ grip on the game loosened after a series of defensive missteps.

The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth inning, as a pair of errors by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Addison Barger allowed the Yankees to mount their comeback. Kiner-Falefa, a former Gold Glove winner, misplayed a ground ball from Ben Rice, which not only allowed Rice to reach base but also started a chain of events that shifted the momentum. Giancarlo Stanton followed with an RBI single, cutting the Blue Jays’ lead to 6-4.

In the fourth inning, with two outs and no one on base, Barger misjudged a pop-up from Austin Wells, allowing him to reach second base. This error set the stage for Aaron Judge, who hit a three-run homer off pitcher Louis Varland. Judge’s blast tied the game at 6-6 and marked a significant milestone; it was the first home run hit on a pitch of 99 mph or faster that was 1.2 feet inside from the center of the strike zone since pitch tracking began in 2008.

As the game progressed, Jazz Chisholm Jr. added to the Yankees’ scoring, hitting a two-run homer off Varland that gave New York a 7-6 lead. The Blue Jays’ night went from bad to worse when Anthony Santander failed to secure a catch on a line drive from Cody Bellinger, allowing Bellinger to reach second base with a double.

The Blue Jays now face the challenge of regrouping quickly. They will need to shift their focus back to the diamond for Game 4, where a victory would secure their place in the AL Championship Series. As the teams prepare for the next game, Toronto’s players must address their defensive lapses, which proved costly in this pivotal matchup.

The series continues to captivate fans as the Blue Jays strive to reclaim control and advance their postseason aspirations. With the stakes higher than ever, all eyes will be on Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.