Traded Twins pitcher drops bummer quote after Aaron Judge sent him to history books

The Toronto Blue Jays grabbed an early 6-1 lead against the New York Yankees in ALDS Game 3. New York entered the game trailing 2-0 in the series, making Game 3 a must-win game for the Yankees. All Toronto had to do to advance to the ALCS was hold onto a five-run lead. Aaron Judge had different plans.

Yankees' Aaron Judge hits ridiculous pitch for huge home run against former Twin Louis Varland in ALDS Game 3

The Yankees managed to lower the deficit to three runs in the third inning with an RBI double from Judge and a sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton. Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Blue Jays gifted the Yankees a runner as third baseman Addison Barger, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the third inning, dropped a routine pop-fly to allow Austin Wells to reach second base with one out. Trent Grisham followed with a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate in Judge, which led to Toronto pulling lefty reliever Mason Fluharty in favor of former Twins righty reliever Louis Varland.

Varland, whom the Blue Jays acquired from the Twins on July 31, quickly went ahead in the count 0-2, but Judge didn't falter. For the third pitch of the at-bat, Varland threw a 100 mph fastball way inside, yet Judge still managed to put a majestic swing on it, tying the game 6-6 with a 373-foot three-run homer that hit the left-field foul pole.

Given the quality of the pitch, all Varland can really do is tip his hat to Judge, who may be on his way to earning his third AL MVP Award.

“[Judge] made a really good pitch look really bad," Varland said, per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Varland managed to escape the fourth inning without allowing further damage, but was replaced in the fifth inning after striking out Stanton and allowing a go-ahead solo home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr. Varland ended up suffering the loss as the Yankees won the game 9-6.

The Yankees will host ALDS Game 4 at 6:08 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Varland will be the opener for Toronto, while Cam Schlittler will make the start on the mound for New York. If the Blue Jays win, they advance to the ALCS. If the Yankees win, ALDS Game 5 will take place in Toronto on Friday night.