Yanks bedevil Angels in 13th, lead 2-0

NEW YORK – Coming through under pressure once again, Alex Rodriguez hit a tying home run in the 11th inning as the New York Yankees edged the Los Angeles Angels, 4-3, Saturday on Maicer Izturis’ throwing error in the 13th for a 2-0 lead in the American League championship series.

After the rain came and went on another chilly night, New York pulled out its latest late-inning thriller. The game ended at 1:07 a.m. local time when Izturis threw away Melky Cabrera’s grounder to second base.

Pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. opened the 13th with a single off losing pitcher Ervin Santana in his first postseason at-bat. Brett Gardner sacrificed and Robinson Cano was intentionally walked as the crowd chanted “Melky! Melky!”

Cabrera hit a bouncer in the hole between first and second, and Izturis curiously tried to throw back across his body to get the force at second. The low throw skipped past shortstop Erick Aybar and rolled behind third, where Chone Figgins tried to pick it up.

Figgins fumbled the ball and Hairston, who had slowed up, sped home and slid in with the winning run, ending a game that lasted 5 hours, 10 minutes.

The Yankees poured out of the dugout to celebrate, knocking over Hairston behind the plate.

Game 3 is Monday at Los Angeles. (AP)