The Yankees entered this contest looking for the series win over the first-place Angels. New York won the opener, but lost the second tilt and now had the chance to take the rubber match.
They had the right man on the mound for the job, with southpaw Andy Pettitte facing off against an Angels offense led by Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson. And like Andy did so many times throughout his career in pinstripes, he gave the club exactly what it needed. When the last out was recorded, the Yankees escaped with the extra-inning victory and series win, and they were off to face Seattle.