ANAHEIM, California – Jeff Mathis hit a two-out double in the 11th inning to drive home the winning run as the Los Angeles Angels survived a second straight thriller to beat the Yankees, 5-4, Monday and trim New York’s lead in the American League championship series to 2-1.
In a game full of missed chances for both sides, the Angels eventually rallied to hand the Yankees their first loss of this postseason.
Howie Kendrick homered, tripled and then singled with two outs in the 11th. Mathis followed with his drive up against the left-field wall, and Kendrick slid home well ahead of a desperate throw.
Mathis, the Angels’ backup catcher, came up with his third late-inning, extra-base hit of this crazy series.
Vladimir Guerrero also homered as the Angels overcame a midgame 3-0 deficit and four solo homers by the Yankees’ stars, including Jorge Posada’s tying shot in the eighth.
Game 4 is Tuesday night, with CC Sabathia pitching on three days’ rest against Angels newcomer Scott Kazmir. Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Thursday.
For the second straight game, the Angels and Yankees played into tense extra innings, stretching nerves and bullpens still frayed from Saturday’s 13-inning, 310-minute Yankees’ victory in New York.
At Philadelphia, Jimmy Rollins lined a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning off closer Jonathan Broxton as Philadelphia rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-4, for a 3-1 lead in the National League championship series.
The defending champions can earn their second straight trip to the World Series with a victory at home in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Cole Hamels, last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, will take the mound for the Phillies. Clayton Kershaw or Vicente Padilla will start for Los Angeles.
Trailing 4-3, the Phillies started their rally with one out in the ninth when pinch-hitter Matt Stairs walked on four pitches against Broxton. Stairs hit a two-run homer off Broxton in Game 4 of the NLCS last year at Dodger Stadium.
Broxton then hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch, but pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs hit a soft liner to third for the second out. (AP)