In one of the most electrifying moments of the postseason, Aaron Judge delivered a jaw-dropping, season-saving home run for the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Down by five runs and facing elimination in the American League Division Series, Judge connected on a blistering 99.7 mph fastball that was more than a foot inside—a pitch virtually impossible to hit for a homer.
This swing not only tied the game but also etched Judge’s name into postseason lore.
It set up a dramatic Yankees comeback win over the Toronto Blue Jays and pushed the series to a pivotal Game 4.
A Historic Blast from Aaron Judge
Judge’s three-run homer in the late innings came against Toronto reliever Louis Varland, who was delivering pure heat.
The pitch was unique not only in speed but also in placement—inside fastballs traveling that fast have rarely even been put in play, let alone sent over the fence.
Since pitch tracking began in 2008, no hitter had managed to homer off a pitch that was both that fast and that far in until Judge did it Tuesday.
Breaking Personal and MLB Records
The blast was a personal milestone for Judge, marking the first home run he has ever hit off a pitch exceeding 99.5 mph.
Normally, pitches coming so far inside force a foul ball or a dodge.
Judge, though, showed off some wild bat control, keeping the ball fair with an uncanny swing.
He even joked afterward that maybe “a couple ghosts out there in Monument Park” lent a helping hand.
Turning Criticism into Applause
Throughout his career, Judge has faced criticism for chasing pitches outside the strike zone.
This time, that tendency became a weapon.
His decision to attack an inside pitch beyond the comfort zone earned him praise instead of rebukes.
As he noted with a grin, sometimes swinging at a pitch pitchers thought was unhittable can change a game—and in this case, a series.
A Yankees Comeback for the Ages
The home run was the critical turning point in a game where the Yankees had been on the ropes early.
Starter Carlos Rodón left the mound before the third inning ended, putting New York in a 6-1 hole.
From there, the offense found new life.
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. added some firepower with a solo shot in the fifth inning.
- The Yankees’ bullpen shut down Toronto completely, delivering 22 consecutive scoreless outs.
- The combination of clutch hitting and airtight relief pitching transformed the game’s momentum.
Series Implications and What’s Next
The win kept the Yankees from elimination and recharged their confidence heading into Game 4.
With the series still hanging in the balance, the Bronx faithful will get another shot to witness playoff drama at Yankee Stadium.
Pitching Matchup to Watch
Game 4 will feature rookie Cam Schlittler starting for the Yankees in his first major postseason outing.
His opponent will be a Toronto bullpen game led by none other than Louis Varland—the same pitcher Judge took deep in Game 3.
This matchup carries some intriguing storylines.
Will Varland redeem himself, or are the Yankees just in his head at this point?
The Legacy of an Iconic Swing
Some postseason heroics just fade away, lost in baseball’s endless history. But a few moments, like Judge’s home run, stick around forever.
That swing wasn’t only about raw power. It mixed opportunity, skill, and a stubborn will to win.
Judge connected on that pitch with the weight of everything pressing down. Statisticians and fans alike will probably be talking about it for years.
For the Yankees, that blast felt more like a lifeline than just a spark. For Judge, it just cemented his reputation as a guy you want at the plate when it matters most.
Baseball fans everywhere—well, they got another taste of why October baseball hits different. There’s just something about those moments.
With the momentum suddenly flipped and the home crowd fired up, the Yankees have dragged their season back from the brink. Game 4 isn’t just another playoff game now; it’s a shot at making history all over again.
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees’ Aaron Judge praises ‘ghosts out there in Monument Park’ for season-saving home run
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