Beyond The Score: Blue Jays vs Yankees ALDS Game 3

Game 3 Recap: Jays Let One Slip in the Bronx

Final: Yankees 9, Blue Jays 6
(Toronto leads series 2–1)

The kind of night that gnaws at you — not because the Blue Jays didn’t hit, but because they did everything early and then watched it unravel one mistake at a time.

Up 6–1 after three innings, it felt like Toronto was cruising toward its first ALCS berth since 2016. Instead, the Yankees clawed back behind Aaron Judge’s monster night, a few defensive lapses, and a bullpen that lost its edge.

The Turning Point

It wasn’t one swing — it was two errors.
Addison Barger’s dropped popup in the fourth cracked the door open, and Judge kicked it down with a three-run rocket off the foul pole that tied the game 6–6. From there, momentum shifted hard. Toronto never found a response.

Early Offense, Empty Finish

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set the tone with a two-run blast in the first, quieting Yankee Stadium with that signature stare toward the dugout.
Ernie Clement kept his bat scorching, going 4-for-4, and Anthony Santander added a two-run single to make it 6–1 in the third.

But that was it. Toronto didn’t record another run the rest of the night.

Pitching Problems

Shane Bieber’s short outing (2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER) forced the bullpen into scramble mode.
Louis Varland’s 0-2 fastball to Judge was 100 mph — and still somehow gone.

After that, the Yankees’ relievers shut things down completely, retiring 20 of the final 22 Jays.

The Silver Lining

Toronto still leads the series 2–1, and despite how ugly this felt, they’ve been the more complete team across three games.
They’ve controlled most innings this series — the difference tonight was execution.

John Schneider summed it up after the game: “Kind of just didn’t play our game.” That’s about right.

What’s Next

Game 4 goes Wednesday night in the Bronx.
Louis Varland will open again, this time with Eric Lauer expected to handle the bulk innings.

The Jays have a chance to flush this loss, reset the defense, and close things out before the series drifts back to Toronto.

Pulse Check

• Guerrero looks locked in.
• Clement continues to be a postseason surprise.
• Defense — needs immediate attention.
• Blue Jays bullpen has to reclaim its edge.

The series isn’t slipping — not yet. But the Jays can’t afford to let another one get away like this.