Aaron Judge connects for a game-tying three-run homer in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. (AP photo)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a tying homer and drove in four runs during a clutch performance for the ages, and the New York Yankees staved off elimination by rallying from five runs down to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Tuesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. launched a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning and the Yankees took advantage of two Toronto errors to avoid a three-game sweep. They scored eight unanswered runs and pulled to 2-1 in the best-of-five series, with Game 4 on Wednesday night in the Bronx.

Judge went 3 for 4 with an intentional walk and scored three times, also making critical plays with his glove and legs as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” After struggling at the plate in previous postseasons, he is 7 for 11 in this series (.636) with five RBIs and three walks.

With the season on the line, New York starter Carlos Rodón gave up six runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings — but five Yankees relievers combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Tim Hill got four outs for the win, and David Bednar worked 1 2/3 perfect innings for his second playoff save as New York improved to 3-0 in elimination games this postseason.

It was the Yankees’ largest comeback ever in an elimination game, and tied for its second-biggest in any postseason game.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an early two-run homer and Ernie Clement had four hits for the AL East champion Blue Jays, who squandered a golden opportunity to put away the Yankees as Toronto tries to reach its first American League Championship Series since 2016.

Consecutive doubles by Trent Grisham and Judge to start the third began New York’s comeback from a 6-1 deficit. Later in the inning, Judge stayed in a rundown between third base and home plate long enough to allow Cody Bellinger to reach third. That became important when Bellinger scored on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly against Toronto starter Shane Bieber, who lasted 2 2/3 innings.

Stanton also had an RBI single in the first after Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa committed a fielding error against his former team.

With the Yankees trailing 6-3 in the fourth, third baseman Addison Barger dropped Austin Wells’ wind-blown popup for another costly error with one out. Grisham walked, and right-hander Louis Varland was brought in to face Judge, who turned on an 0-2 fastball clocked at 100 mph off the inside corner and somehow kept it fair, launching a three-run drive that clanged high off the left-field foul pole.

Judge tossed his bat aside and gestured to teammates on the bench as the sellout crowd of 47,399 burst into a frenzy.

The right fielder then made a diving catch with a runner at second in the fifth, drawing more “MVP” chants.

Chisholm gave the Yankees their first lead of the series with a solo homer off Varland in the bottom half. Amed Rosario doubled and scored on Wells’ two-out single to make it 8-6, and Ben Rice added a sacrifice fly in the sixth that scored Judge after he was intentionally walked with one out and nobody on base.

Call it the ultimate sign of respect. Or perhaps, fear.

Davis Schneider drew a one-out walk in the first and Guerrero launched the 14th pitch of the game — a 2-0 changeup from Rodón — 427 feet into the Toronto bullpen in left-center.

The next time up, Yankees fans cheered when Guerrero was intentionally walked following Schneider’s leadoff double in the third.

Guerrero went full-out Superman while diving across home plate to score on Clement’s single, and Anthony Santander’s two-run single capped a four-run inning that made it 6-1.

Up next

Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler starts Wednesday night for New York, coming off a dominant performance in a winner-take-all Wild Card Series game against rival Boston last Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Toronto is expected to go with a bullpen game.

MARINERS 8, TIGERS 4

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford had solo shots and the visiting Seattle Mariners took a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series at Comerica Park.

The Mariners are within a win of their first AL Championship Series since 2001. Their first chance to advance is on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park and if necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5.

Seattle’s Logan Gilbert gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none over six innings.

Raleigh, who had a major league-high 60 homers during the regular season, hit a 391-foot, two-run homer to left-center in the ninth to make it 8-1.

The offensively challenged Tigers were limited to four hits and one run through eight innings before suddenly generating some offense in the ninth against Caleb Ferguson, who allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without getting an out.

Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double and Andy Ibanez followed with an RBI single.

All-Star closer Andres Munoz entered with one on and no outs and ended Detroit’s comeback hopes with a flyout and game-ending double play.

Detroit’s Jack Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks.

Seattle scored two runs in the third after starting the inning with three hits and a walk.

Victor Robles led off with a double and scored on an error, which was credited to left fielder Riley Greene for an errant throw that could have been fielded on a bounce by catcher Dillon Dingler. Randy Arozarena’s RBI single put the Mariners ahead 2-0.

Suarez sent a 422-foot shot to left in the fourth to make it 3-0. Raleigh’s two-out RBI single in the inning gave Seattle a four-run cushion.

The Tigers were hoping their first home game in two-plus weeks might make them more comfortable at the plate, but it didn’t help and they lost an eighth straight at Comerica Park.

Detroit finally scored in the fifth on Kerry Carpenter’s fielder’s choice on what was potentially an inning-ending double play. Crawford’s throw from second base pulled first baseman Josh Naylor off the bag and he didn’t secure the ball in his glove, allowing Dingler to score.

Crawford’s homer in the sixth restored Seattle’s four-run lead.

The Tigers allowed the Mariners to score a second unearned run in the eighth inning after Carpenter dropped Victor Robles’ fly in right field, allowing Luke Raley to advance to third and to score on Crawford’s sacrifice fly.

Up next

Detroit RHP Casey Mize is expected to start Game 4 with an opportunity to extend the series.

“I look forward to that opportunity,” he said. “I don’t fear that.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson was expected to announce a probable starter for Wednesday after Game 3.