NEW YORK — Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer and made two outstanding catches in right field as the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros 8-1 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series Monday night.
The Astros lead the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
Judge ensured Houston would not be going for the sweep by producing one of his best games of the postseason. He drew a walk in the third inning off Charlie Morton (0-1) and homered off Will Harris to highlight a five-run fourth.
In between plate appearances, Judge made a leaping catch at the base of the right field wall in the fourth to rob Yuli Gurriel of at least an extra-base hit and possibly a homer.
After homering, Judge raced in to make a diving catch on Cameron Maybin for the first out of the fifth.
Todd Frazier hit a three-run homer, Chase Headley had a run-scoring infield single and Frazier scored on a wild pitch as the Yankees snapped a seven-game losing streak in the ALCS.
CC Sabathia (1-0) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and improved to 10-0 this season following a New York loss.
Morton allowed seven runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa were a combined 1-for-8, though Houston avoided being blanked in the postseason for the fourth time in team history. The Astros scored their lone run on a bases-loaded walk by Alex Bregman in the ninth.
In the second inning, following an infield single by Starlin Castro and a base hit by Aaron Hicks, Frazier hit a 2-2 fastball well into the right field seats.
The Astros threatened with two outs in the third by loading the bases on two walks and a single. Sabathia only needed two pitches to retire Correa on a soft popup.
Sabathia had help from his defense to start the fourth as Judge leaped and crashed into the fence wall to catch Gurriel’s fly ball.
NOTES: New York RHP Luis Severino was not sent for tests after exiting Game 2 after four innings for precautionary reasons. The Yankees thought he might have a shoulder injury when he was taken out, but he is on track to start Game 6 if necessary. … RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will start Game 4 for Houston against Yankees RHP Sonny Gray. … Monday marked the 14th anniversary of Aaron Boone’s series-clinching 11th homer for New York in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. … Houston bench coach Alex Cora is reportedly interviewing for the vacant New York Mets managerial opening Tuesday. He interviewed for the Red Sox’s managerial opening on Monday. … Former Yankees CF Bernie Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch.