By Michael P. Ventura
DNAinfo Associate Editor
MANHATTAN — Put the champagne back on ice because the Yankees' date with the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series is delayed.
The Bombers dropped a heartbreaking Game 5 Thursday night in Anaheim to the Los Angeles Angels, 7-6, sending the American League Championship Series back to the Bronx. Game 6 is Saturday night.
Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was roughed up in the first inning, giving up four runs.
The Yanks closed the gap and took the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs off Angels reliever Darren Oliver to go up 6-4. But Burnett, and set-up man Phil Hughes, gave the lead right back in the bottom half of the inning.
“If you’re a fan and you like drama, you got your money’s worth,” Angels pitcher Joe Saunders told the New York Times. He'll face Andy Pettitte in Game 6.
We got the lead, we gave up the lead, and we never say die with this club," Saunders said, according to the Times. "I’m just proud to be a part of it. The fact that we came back and did what we did was just awesome.”
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira hit a three-run double in the seventh inning to spark the six-run rally. But Angels Vladimir Guerrero and Kendry Morales put the Angels back on top with run-scoring singles.
"We're definitely disappointed we didn't close it out tonight," Johnny Damon told the Daily News. "We play well at home, though. We know they picked up a big game, so hopefully Pettitte can go out Saturday and shut them down."
The Bombers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, but outfielder Nick Swisher popped up for the final out, rendering useless the 20 cases of champagne the team had at the ready, the News said.
"A big hit right there would have erased a lot," Swisher said, according to the New York Post. "It's the biggest stage and you want to come through there."
