#9 10/10/05 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim - 2005 ALDS Game 5

For the first time in their history, the Angels successfully defended the divisional title by winning 95 games in 2005. Their reward was to play the AL East champion New York Yankees.

The Yankees won Game 1, 4-2, as Mike Mussina out dueled Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon. The Angels came back from a 2-0 deficit to win Game 2, 5-3, as Bengie Molina went 2 for 4 with two RBI, hitting his second home run of the series. Former Yankee Juan Rivera (2 for 3) also went deep for the Halos and Kelvim Escobar got the victory in relief.

In New York, the Angels bombed the Yanks in Game 3 by a score of 11-7. Bengie went deep for the third straight game, this time a two-run shot off Randy Johnson in the third inning. Garret Anderson also tagged Johnson for a three-run homer in the first, and finished the night 4 for 5 with 5 RBI. Scot Shields was credited with the win. Scot was tagged for the loss in Game 4 as the Yankees came back to win 3-2 and even the series at two games apiece, setting up a Game 5 showdown, winner take all.

Back in Anaheim, Colon took the mound again for the Angels, but injured himself in the top of the second. The Yankees scored two off his reliever, rookie Ervin Santana. But the Angels responded immediately with three runs in their half of the second. G.A. led off the inning with his second homer of the series. Molina, who was on fire, followed with a single. Two outs later, Steve Finley drew a walk. Adam Kennedy ripped a triple to center, driving in two.

In the third, Orlando Cabrera singled to left. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single to right, moving Cabrera to third. Anderson drove in Cabrera with a sacrifice fly. Bengie stroked a single to right for his eighth hit of the series, advancing Guerrero to third. Vladi scored ahead of the tag on the fielder’s choice of Erstad’s goundball to first, giving the Angels a 5-2 lead.

The Angels’ pitchers then held the Yanks to one run the rest of the game, a solo shot by Jeter, sealing the 5-3 win. The victory clinched the Angels’ first series victory since their 2002 championship season. Santana, who had won the AL West clincher was the winner, and Frankie Rodriguez was credited with the save. Molina was the unofficial MVP, batting .444 with 3 home runs, 5 runs scored, and 5 RBI.