INQUIRER Sports

LOS ANGELES ? The Los Angeles Angels rallied from the brink of playoff elimination by overcoming a six-run New York seventh inning to hold on and beat the Yankees 7-6 on Thursday.

It was a roller-coaster game in which the Angels led 4-0 then fell behind 6-4 before storming back with a three-run seventh to win 7-6 in game five of the American League championship series.

The hard-fought victory cut the Yankees series lead to 3-2 and forced game six back in New York on Saturday.

"We got another shot," said Angels starting pitcher John Lackey. "The guys battled. We had a rough inning and the guys came back and scored runs right after that. We overcame a lot."

The Angels started quickly with four runs in the opening inning but it soon became apparent no lead was going to be safe Thursday.

Kendry Morales' RBI single capped a three-run rally in the seventh for the Angels.

The Yankees left the game with the bases loaded as Nick Swisher hit an infield pop up to end the game on a 3-2 pitch with two outs.

"We are down 3-2 but we are just punching, kicking and clawing," said Angels Torrii Hunter. "My hair is falling out but this is exciting. Everybody thought we were out it."

Angels lefthanded closer Brian Fuentes made it interesting in the ninth by walking Alex Rodriguez and Japan's Hideki Matsui. He beaned Robinson Cano to load the bases.

Swisher, who is just three-for-28 in the playoffs, failed to drive in the go-ahead run marooning his three teammates.

The winner of the American League pennant will face the defending World Series-champion Philadelphia Phillies beginning Wednesday.

New York is trying to get the World Series for the first time since 2003 when they lost in six games to the Florida Marlins.