Still, despite the heroics of Bird and Tanaka, who shut out the Indians on three hits over seven innings, and effective pitching from Aroldis Chapman, who retired Carlos Santana on a fly ball to center with two runners on to end the game, the Yankees needed every bit of the 6-foot-7-inch frame of right fielder Aaron Judge.
Judge has been all but absent at the plate in this series — he is now 0 for 10 with eight strikeouts — but he did his part with his glove when Francisco Lindor, whose grand slam launched the Indians’ comeback in Game 2, lifted a towering fly ball to right field in the sixth inning.
The vibrant ballpark grew silent as the ball carried through the unseasonably warm October air. But Judge, his back as close to the wall as the Yankees’ were on Sunday night, leapt and snatched the ball, which was about to become a two-run homer.
Credit
Ben Solomon for The New York Times
The crowd erupted in cheers and the game remained…
