Judge takes blame for misplay with Bader: 'I definitely messed him up'

New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge took ownership for a miscommunication with Harrison Bader on a fly ball during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Judge and Bader converged on a fly ball off the bat of Astros catcher Christian Vazquez in the top of the second inning. Judge cut in front of Bader at the last second, allowing the ball to drop in.

"I definitely messed him up on that play. I gotta take responsibility for that," Judge said, per SNY. "He's the center fielder, so when he calls it, I gotta drop and get out of the way, and (I) just couldn't move quick enough. I don't think the noise was really too much of a factor."

The misplay put a runner on base for Chas McCormick, who proceeded to hit an opposite-field two-run home run that held up as the winning play in Houston's 5-0 victory.

Bader chalked up the play to two outfielders trusting their instincts.

"Given the situation, it's two guys going hard for the baseball," Bader said, according to YES Network. "I trust my glove; Judge trusts his glove. As soon as it's hit in our area, you want to go for it. We just didn't hear each other."

From his vantage point, Yankees manager Aaron Boone saw Bader arrive for the ball at the last moment, creating confusion.

"I think Aaron called it pretty early, having a beat on it, and then Harrison came in late and was calling it also loud, so I think by the time he gave way, he was kind of in front of him, might have shielded his vision a little bit," Boone said. "When it's loud like that, I think he probably got shielded out a little bit."

The Yankees will look to avoid a sweep against the Astros when they send Nestor Cortes to the mound in Game 4 on Sunday.