Judge’s MVP-like performance keeps the Yankees alive while the Mariners take a 2-1 lead

Aaron Boone praised Aaron Judge’s “MVP-like” performance after the New York Yankees star inspired a 9-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.

Facing elimination, the Yankees trailed 6-1 in the third inning of Game 3 in New York after losing both of the first two games of the best-of-five series in Toronto.

But after an RBI double from Judge, who then played a key role in helping Cody Bellinger score on a sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton, the American League record holder for home runs in a single season tied the game in impressive fashion.

AL MVP Judge Contender Incredibly, he hit a pitch from Louis Farland that was approaching 100 mph and 1.2 feet inside (against the center of the strike zone) 373 feet before hitting the foul pole for a home run that tied the Yankees level at 6-6.

It was the first time in the pitch-tracking era, which began in 2008, that a player was on the field so far inside and at a speed of more than 99 mph.

Then, Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in a two-run fifth inning to give the Yankees the lead, with Judge capping the turnaround in the sixth inning when he scored on a sac fly from Ben Rice.

Judge closed out the 3-4 score with an intentional walk that also led to a run, while he picked up the ball on fifth and sixth in a great defensive play from the right fielder.

Judge’s ‘amazing swing’ propels Yankees

Asked about Judge’s homer, Boone said: “It’s an amazing swing. That’s shades of Edgar Martinez right there, taking that high, tight swing and keeping it fair down the line. Manny Ramirez used to do that well, too. But obviously it’s just a great swing on a really bad pitch.”

“I’m happy for him because he had a really amazing game. And you look at the defense as well, it’s just a great, MVP-like performance.

“He was the best player in a match-up type performance. It was special when obviously, needless to say, we were back against the wall and then in a Game 3 situation.”

The Yankees need to repeat that feat on Wednesday to send the series back to Toronto for Game 5.

“We need another one tomorrow,” Boone added. “We’ll enjoy this for about 10 minutes and get ready for tomorrow.”

The Mariners are one win away

The Seattle Mariners are one step away from winning the ALDS Series with the Detroit Tigers with an 8-4 win on the road.

Seattle came back three times to take an 8-1 lead in the ninth, with a late flurry from the Tigers unable to spoil a brilliant effort from pitcher Logan Gilbert, who struck out seven batters deep in six innings with his start.

With a win Wednesday at Comerica Park, the Mariners will advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since the 2001 season.

“Logan was vintage,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

“He attacked the zone. He got good numbers. He let the split and slider do their job and kept him in step.”

“I thought he was vintage Logan. And to have that, as I mentioned, on the road in a big game tonight after a long rain delay. You can’t tarnish that either. Being able to come out and throw a walk like that after waiting a few hours is another feather in his cap.”

“So he answered the call tonight, no doubt about it, and that was definitely what we needed.”