The hometown Los Angeles Angels overcame a late Yankees comeback to stay alive in the American League Championship Series, defeating New York 7-6 on Thursday to force a sixth game.
Kendry Morales was the hero for L.A., hitting a two-out RBI single in the seventh to drive in the winning run.
The Angels looked as if they were in complete control through the first seven innings, up 4-0 with starter John Lackey humming along nicely, but the Yanks tagged Lackey and his relief for six runs in the seventh to give themselves a 6-4 lead.
But back came the Angels in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three to take the lead again before hanging on by the skin of their teeth in the ninth.
L.A. reliever Brian Fuentes grabbed two quick outs in the ninth inning but then loaded the bases. The next batter, Nick Swisher, forced Fuentes into a full count but popped up to end the game.
"My hair is falling out," said shaved-headed Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who had a two-run single in L.A.'s four-run first inning. "We're having a little fun, man. Everybody thought we were down."
Game 6 is set for Saturday night at Yankee Stadium as pitcher Andy Pettitte faces Los Angeles' Joe Saunders. But a big rainstorm is supposed to hit New York on Saturday, which might play havoc with the starting time.
Fighting deficitThe Angels are trying to pull off a comeback in the best-of-seven series after going down 3-1, a feat accomplished in the LCS only six times in history. Including the World Series, 11 of 70 teams that were in a 3-1 deficit have made the comeback.
"That's not a forgiving team over there," L.A. manager Mike Scioscia said. "They hit pretty quick in that inning with six runs, and we bounced back and answered with three. In the dugout between innings, guys were still pumped up. Just some real good hitting."
Boston was the latest team to pull it off, taking down the Cleveland Indians in 2007 on the way to a World Series title. And the Red Sox famously did it to New York in 2004, coming all the way back from a 3-0 hole to win the series.
Lackey, in what could be his last start as an Angel, had a shaky first inning Thursday but settled in until the seventh, when he left a mess that his relievers couldn't clean up.
A free agent after the season's done, Lackey was charged for three runs on six hits and three walks, striking out seven.
Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was tagged early and late, giving up a total of six runs off eight hits and three walks, while striking out three.
"It's a missed opportunity, but we still have another game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've bounced back from tough losses all year long. We've had it happen to us before and been able to get off the carpet."
Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Morales all had two RBIs for the Angels. Mark Teixeira drove in three for the Yankees and Cano added two.
Hunter gave the Angels the lead with a two-run single in the first, followed by Guerrero's RBI double and Morales's RBI single to put the Angels up 4-0 after one inning.
The normally even-keeled Yankees left-fielder Johnny Damon was visibly upset at being called out in the top of the third on a close play at first base, and voiced his frustration at first base umpire Dale Scott. Replays showed Damon clearly beat the throw to first.
Umpires in the MLB playoffs have been under fire for a number of blown calls, prompting the league to switch its umpiring crew for the World Series.
The Yankees turned the tide in the seventh. Lackey loaded the bases and was pulled with two out. He wasn't pleased with Scioscia's decision to pull him, and voiced his displeasure on the way to the dugout.
The move backfired. Teixeira cleared the bases with a first-pitch double off reliever Darren Oliver, who then gave up an RBI single to Matsui and a two-run triple against Cano.
With the loud crowd at Angel Stadium quieted, L.A. didn't fold over, as Bobby Abreu drove a run in on a fielder's choice and Guerrero came through again by hitting a two-out RBI single to tie the game before Morales delivered the knockout punch in the bottom of the seventh.
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