ANAHEIM, Calif. - Kendry Morales drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Angels responded to the Yankees' six-run rally moments earlier for a 7-6 win Thursday night that trimmed New York's lead in the AL championship series to 3-2.
Vladimir Guerrero's single tied it in the seventh for the Angels, who somehow didn't surrender after blowing a 4-0 lead moments earlier.
New York struck immediately after manager Mike Scioscia removed ace John Lackey.
The Game 5 theatrics continued right up to the final pitch, when Angels closer Brian Fuentes retired Nick Swisher on a full-count popup with the bases loaded.
Game 6 is Saturday night at Yankee Stadium, with Andy Pettitte facing Los Angeles' Joe Saunders.
A.J. Burnett failed to deliver a closeout victory for the New York Yankees.
Making his third start of the playoffs, Burnett got torched for four runs in the first inning and couldn't hold a Yankees lead when he started the seventh.
The loss conjured up memories of 2004, when the Yankees led Boston 3-0 in the ALCS and lost four consecutive games to miss out on a World Series berth. They haven't been in the World Series since 2003.
Torii Hunter hit a two-run single in Los Angeles' four-run first against Burnett and Lackey pitched shutout ball after a shaky start to lead the Angels to a 4-0 lead through six innings.
Lackey, who won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series for the Angels as a rookie, made his 13th postseason start on the eve of his 31st birthday and tried to prevent the Yankees from wrapping up their 40th pennant and first since 2003.
Burnett got off to a shaky start, allowing the first five batters to reach on 12 pitches. Hunter singled to center for his first two RBIs of the series, Guerrero drove the next pitch to left-center for an RBI double and Morales capped the rally with a run-scoring single.
Lackey came in 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his three previous postseason starts against New York - including Game 1 last Friday, when he lost 4-1 to CC Sabathia.
He allowed three runners as far as second base going into the seventh inning.
The right-hander gave up a single to Derek Jeter on his first pitch of the game and a single to Johnny Damon on his third pitch. But Mark Teixeira struck out for the eighth time in 19 at-bats during this series to that point, Alex Rodriguez fouled out and Hideki Matsui grounded out.
Angels 7
Yankees 6
New York struck immediately after manager Mike Scioscia removed ace John Lackey.
The Game 5 theatrics continued right up to the final pitch, when Angels closer Brian Fuentes retired Nick Swisher on a full-count popup with the bases loaded.
Game 6 is Saturday night at Yankee Stadium, with Andy Pettitte facing Los Angeles' Joe Saunders.
A.J. Burnett failed to deliver a closeout victory for the New York Yankees.
Making his third start of the playoffs, Burnett got torched for four runs in the first inning and couldn't hold a Yankees lead when he started the seventh.
The loss conjured up memories of 2004, when the Yankees led Boston 3-0 in the ALCS and lost four consecutive games to miss out on a World Series berth. They haven't been in the World Series since 2003.
Torii Hunter hit a two-run single in Los Angeles' four-run first against Burnett and Lackey pitched shutout ball after a shaky start to lead the Angels to a 4-0 lead through six innings.
Lackey, who won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series for the Angels as a rookie, made his 13th postseason start on the eve of his 31st birthday and tried to prevent the Yankees from wrapping up their 40th pennant and first since 2003.
Burnett got off to a shaky start, allowing the first five batters to reach on 12 pitches. Hunter singled to center for his first two RBIs of the series, Guerrero drove the next pitch to left-center for an RBI double and Morales capped the rally with a run-scoring single.
Lackey came in 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his three previous postseason starts against New York - including Game 1 last Friday, when he lost 4-1 to CC Sabathia.
He allowed three runners as far as second base going into the seventh inning.
The right-hander gave up a single to Derek Jeter on his first pitch of the game and a single to Johnny Damon on his third pitch. But Mark Teixeira struck out for the eighth time in 19 at-bats during this series to that point, Alex Rodriguez fouled out and Hideki Matsui grounded out.
Angels 7
Yankees 6
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