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ALCS: Aaron Judge gets New York Yankees back in series in 8-1 rout

By Larry Fleisher, The Sports Xchange
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros in the fourth inning in Game 3 of the 2017 MLB Playoffs American League Championship Series Monday at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI
1 of 3 | New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros in the fourth inning in Game 3 of the 2017 MLB Playoffs American League Championship Series Monday at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo

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.

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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.

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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.

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