Yankees strike back 3-run homers highlight rout of Astros in Game 3

NEW YORK (AP) – Back in the Bronx, the big guys delivered. Greeted by an array of “All Rise’’ signs in a ballpark that fits their style, Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer and made a pair of sparkling catches, leading CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 8-1 Monday night and cutting their deficit to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.

Todd Frazier hit a go-ahead, threerun homer into the short porch in right field in the second inning against Charlie Morton.

The 6-foot-7 Judge entered in a 4-for-31 (.129) postseason slump that included one home run, four RBIs and 19 strikeouts. The slugger capped a five-run fourth with a laser of a drive to left field off Will Harris and robbed Yuli Gurriel and Cameron Maybin of extra-base hits.

“You see a guy put his head basically through the wall and then dive,’’ Frazier said. ``The ground is going to shake when he hits the ground.’’

Sabathia, almost as big at 6-foot-6, allowed three hits over six scoreless innings for his first postseason win in five years. The Yankees stopped a seven-game ALCS losing streak dating to Sabathia’s victory over Texas in 2010 – when Judge had just started his freshman year at Fresno State.

After a pair of 2-1 losses in Houston, the Yankees led 8-0 after four innings.

“Just the energy, the fans,’’ Sabathia said. “We can kind of feed off their energy.’’

New York improved to 4-0 at home this postseason. The Yankees were an AL-best 51-30 at home this season.

“We’re somewhat built for this ballpark,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.

Houston scored on a bases-loaded walk in the ninth before postseason star Jose Altuve grounded into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.