Despite going down 3-0 early, the Angels rallied back behind a terrific game at the plate from Howie Kendrick to take Game 3 by a final score of 5-4. The Yankees now lead the ALCS 2-1. Andy Pettitte was pitching another signature October start, where he appeared to be setting himself up to become the all-time leader in playoff wins until he ran into the fifth and sixth innings. The first homer from the Angels in the entire series came from Howie Kendrick on a 90 MPH cutter from Pettitte in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 3-1 game. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bobby Abreu got his first base hit of the series and then Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-out, two-run homer on an inside fastball into the bullpen to even the game at three runs apiece. The Angels started Jered Weaver, who went five innings and pitched well out of trouble, letting his damage happen only when the bases were emptied. Weaver gave up solo homers in the first, fourth and fifth to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon respectively, with the Rodriguez and Damon shots coming on changeups left high in zone. But the homer took the Angels off life support and gave the entire team a substantial boost of energy. Coming into the game, murmurs were mounting that Mike Scioscia should take Guerrero out of the cleanup slot. Pettitte retired the first batter in the bottom of the seventh before Kendrick banged a first pitch offering from Joba Chamberlain off the fence in right field for a triple. In the next at bat, Kendrick scored on a sacrifice fly from Macier Izturis to deep right center. Chamberlain was pulled by Joe Girardi after giving up a 3-2 double to Erick Aybar. Damaso Marte retired Chone Figgins on a first pitch fastball to allow the Yankees to escape the seventh inning by only a 4-3 deficit. Hideki Matsui walked to lead off the 8th inning, his third time reaching base in the game. He was lifted for pinch runner Brett Gardner who was thrown out trying to steal second base by Jeff Mathis when the Angels guessed right on an 0-1 pitchout. One ball later, Posada hit a 97 MPH fastball just barely over the Nick Adenhart memorial wall right of center in the deepest part of the ballpark to tie the game back up. Robinson Cano then singled up the middle, followed by a Nick Swisher walk. Melky Cabrera came into his eighth inning at bat previously leaving two on in the 2nd and two more in the 4th. The Yankees have relied on Cabrera to deliver in the ninth position to turn the lineup over and create extended rallies, but he struck out swinging on a curve in the dirt. Jeter bounced back to Kevin Jespen to end the Yankees? rally. Abreu hit a ball to the wall to lead off the bottom of the eighth, but greedily rounded second towards third before holding up, allowing Jeter to flip to Teixeira covering second to pick him off. Philip Hughes entered the game to retire Torii Hunter and Guerrero. After Fuentes decided he wanted nothing to with Rodriguez again, Jerry Hairston pinch hit for Gardner and struck out on three pitches. Hughes retired the Angels three up, three down in the ninth to send the game into extra innings again. After no legitimate scoring threats by either team in the ninth, Mathis led off the tenth inning with a double to left center off of Hughes. Aybar bunted back to Rivera, who saw an opportunity to get Mathis out at third, but his throw was low and got past Rodriguez. Damon backed up the play to prevent Mathis from advancing home as the winning run. Figgins then grounded out sharply to the diving Teixeira at first, who held Mathis and slapped first with his glove. Teixeira also recorded the next two outs when Hunter grounded to him, forcing the first baseman to come home to force out Mathis and then Guerrero hit another ground ball where he had enough time to take it to first unassisted. With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Kendrick singled up the middle off of Alfredo Aceves, which brought up Mathis. Mathis took a 1-0 fastball off the wall in left center that scored Kendrick around from first standing up to give the Angels a 5-4 victory. Joe Girardi may have overmanaged when he pulled out David Robertson in favor of Aceves. Robertson had fairly easily retired the first two batters in the 11th. CC Sabathia will take the ball for the Yankees in Game 4 against Scott Kazmir. Lead Off Success Yankees: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th Angels: 1st, 2nd, 8th (Abreu out at second), 10th