Judge rules as Yankees tie series

NEW YORK (AP) – With a soaring shot headed for Monument Park, Aaron Judge got New York back on course for another memorable October.

Judge ignited a comeback with a home run , then a tying double during four-run eighth inning to spur the Yankees over the Houston Astros 6-4 Tuesday night and level the AL Championship Series 2-2.

The Baby Bombers trailed 4-0 against starter Lance McCullers Jr. until Judge homered leading off the seventh. He tied it with a line drive that nearly left the park in the eighth and scored when Gary Sanchez hit a go-ahead two-run double off loser Ken Giles.

“I didn't know what to do after I touched home plate,'' Judge said. “I can't describe it.''

The Yankees overcame three errors and have rallied from a second straight 0-2 series deficit _ they beat Cleveland in the Division Series by winning three in a row to take that best-offive matchup.

Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a perfect ninth to cap a three-hitter and get the save. Before a sellout crowd of 48,804, New York improved to 5-0 at hit a home in the playoffs and won for the 18th time in its last 21 home games.

“Every home game has been special,'' manager Joe Girardi said. “I just feel like the fans are back. And I see things that I haven't in a while, and it reminds me a lot of when I was playing here.''

Yankee Stadium will be rocking again when Masahiro Tanaka pitches for New York against Dallas Keuchel in Game 5 Wednesday.