CLEVELAND – Aaron Judge reached down to sprinkle a handful of dirt outside the batter’s box, taking a moment during a delicious power vs. power showdown with Emmanuel Clase, the league’s most dominant closer. They’d both enjoyed terrific regular seasons, then some struggles in the postseason. Only one could win this battle.

The jubilant Yankees spilled from their dugout as Judge barreled a line drive over the right-field wall for a game-tying homer, then they celebrated again seven pitches later when Giancarlo Stanton launched a go-ahead homer. But the stunned gut-punch Clase experienced would soon be shared by Luke Weaver, who surrendered a game-tying, pinch-hit two-run homer to Jhonkensy Noel with two outs in the ninth inning.

David Fry hit a two-run homer in the 10th off Clay Holmes as the Guardians handed the Yanks a 7-5 loss in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday evening at Progressive Field. The Yankees lead the best-of-seven ALCS, two games to one.

Judge’s eighth-inning blast was his second homer of the postseason, and his second in as many games. It was also the first game-tying playoff homer in the eighth inning or later by a Yankee since DJ LeMahieu in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS at Houston. Stanton followed with the go-ahead blast, making good after being elevated to the cleanup spot for Game 3, his first nod there this postseason.

The Yankees played from behind for most of the contest, an unfamiliar position after not trailing since Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Royals. Clarke Schmidt surrendered a two-run homer to rookie Kyle Manzardo in the third inning, and Cleveland’s vaunted bullpen seemed primed to make the advantage hold up, handing off a two-run lead to Clase with four outs to go.

The Yankees struck first in the contest, with Jose Trevino lashing a run-scoring single in the second inning off Matthew Boyd, marking the catcher’s first at-bat since Sept. 29. But the Yanks settled for one run in the frame as Trevino was picked off first base; Trevino is the third Yankee to be picked off in the last two games.

Boyd did not permit another baserunner, retiring the last 10 Yanks he faced through the fifth inning. That allowed the Guardians to showcase their power arms, beginning with Cade Smith, who threw 10 pitches (all strikes) to get through Juan Soto, Judge and Stanton in the sixth.

Andrés Giménez added a run-scoring single in the sixth off Tim Mayza, who entered the game after Ian Hamilton had to exit with left calf tightness, an injury sustained while covering first base on a groundout.