But the Yankees, who have made a habit of taking advantage of their opportunities since their late-inning explosion in Game 2, stranded 14 runners in Game 5. Eight of those left on were in scoring position.
In contrast, the Seattle Mariners scored when they had the chance, riding a five-run fifth inning to a 6-2 victory.
The win keeps the Mariners afloat as the teams head back to the Bronx for Game 6, where Seattle will again be playing for its playoff life. But a 3-2 deficit is much less frightening than the 3-1 reality the Mariners were faced with going into Sunday's game.
Alex Rodriguez (front) offers congratulations to John Olerud. (AP/ Ted S. Warren)
"The pressure's on them," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "They're supposed to win."
And after the awakening of Seattle's big bats in Game 5, the Mariners have to feel like they have regained a little of the momentum in this ALCS.
"We're in a no-lose situation," Mariners first-baseman John Olerud said. "I don't think there's many people who think we're able to come back."
Seattle did nearly all its damage in the fifth inning Sunday. With New York up 2-1, the Mariners put runners on second and third with one out and the heart of the Seattle lineup coming to the plate.
That prompted Yankees manager Joe Torre to pull starter Denny Neagle (0-2) in favour of Jeff Nelson.
But the Seattle trio of Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez and John Olerud, who had combined for a total of two RBIs in the first four games of the series, hammered the Yankees reliever.
Rodriguez singled, driving in Mark McLemore and Rickey Henderson. Martinez then hit a two-run home run to centre field. Olerud, who had been robbed of a homer by New York's Bernie Williams in the fourth inning, hit one clear into the seats in right field, giving the Mariners the 6-2 lead that would hold up until the final out of the game.
Nelson allowed the same number of home runs in the fifth inning (2) as in 69 2-3 innings during the regular season.
"It happened quick," Nelson said of the Game 5 home runs. "I didn't make good pitches."
Even more impressive is that Seattle skipped on batting practice before the game.
"We just got loose and played the game," Piniella said. "Sometimes, it's a more relaxing thing."
Game 5 was a perfect reversal of Game 3, in which the Mariners squandered scoring opportunities while the Yankees cashed in.
In Game 5, the Yankees failed repeatedly to get the big hit.
Though New York got a pair in the fourth inning, when a Luis Sojo double brought home Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada, Seattle starter Freddy Garcia (2-0) retired the Yankees with runners still on second and third.
Garcia surrendered five hits and two runs over five innings.
In the fifth, the Yankees stranded Bernie Williams at third. In the seventh, New York loaded the bases on walks but reliever Arthur Rhodes, victimized by the Yankees in Game 2, struck out both Jorge Posada and Glenallen Hill to end the inning.
Rhodes also stranded Yankees at first and second in the eighth. And Kazuhiro Sasaki managed to retire New York in the ninth, despite allowing Yankees to reach first and third in the inning.
"We had plenty of opportunities," Torre said. "We just didn't do anything with them."
John Halama will try to continue the Yankees' frustration when he takes to the mound for Seattle in Game 6. New York will go with Orlando Hernandez, the winner in Game 2.
Andy Pettitte would be the Yankees starter if a Game 7 is necessary.
"I like our chances, basically because we have two of our best going," Torre said. "Hopefully, one is enough."
