Howie Kendrick slides in with the winning run after earlier hitting a triple and a home run. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)The Los Angeles Angels can even up the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night after appearing down and out just 24 hours earlier.
The challenge will be great in Game 4, as the Angels have to find an answer for Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia.
The big horse for the Yankees has gone 11-1 in his last 14 starts, including two playoffs wins in which he alllowed just three runs.
Los Angeles managed just four hits off Sabathia in their Game 1 loss on Friday, with nothing more powerful than a double. Sabathia whiffed seven Angels.
Angels starter Scott Kazmir will make his series debut.
Kazmir earned a win against Boston in the AL Divisional Series on Oct. 11, although it wasn't a superlative effort. The left-hander allowed five runs over six innings, walking three and striking out one.
Kazmir endured injury and a trade from Tampa Bay this season, but he's been on the big stage before. He appeared in five games in the playoffs last year with a 1-1 record for the Rays, pitching well but taking a 3-2 loss in the World Series.
The Angels have never come back from an 0-2 deficit in the playoffs, but they could inspire "team of destiny" talk if they continue in the same vein as their comeback Game 3 win on Monday.
Los Angeles trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but ultimately overcame four New York home runs, a base-running gaffe and missed hitting opportunties.
Catcher Jeff Mathis smacked his second double of the game in the 11th to give the home team a 5-4 win.
Mathis is now 4-for-9 at the plate and he only enhanced his reputation as a defensive whiz behind the plate by throwing out a baserunner and getting his body in front of a handful of erratic pitches.
Vladimir Guerrero atoned for a Game 2 filled with stranded baserunners with a two-run homer, while Howie Kendrick went 3-for-5 with a triple and solo blast.
The Yankees continued to bring the power in Game 3, with solo home runs from Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada.
But New York is having trouble manufacturing runs, evident by a total of six homers and just eight runs in the last two. The Yankees put on two baserunners with one out after the Posada home run in the eighth in Game 3, but Jeter and Melky Cabrera couldn't cash them in.
As well, the bullpen has looked shaky. Phil Coke, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain all gave up extra-base hits on Monday, while Mariano Rivera flirted with disaster before working out of a bases-loaded jam.
The teams will get a day of rest before playing the final series game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Thrusday.
If necessary, Game 6 would begin late Saturday afternoon in New York.
