Boston ? After 26 innings in 26 hours, it was almost hard to tell one game from another. Even the hero didn’t change.

Yes, that was another game-winning hit by David Ortiz on Monday night.

“That’s all I do. I don’t have to worry about going in the field, so I’d better get it done,” the Red Sox designated hitter said after his 14th-inning blooper gave Boston a 5-4 victory over the Yankees and forced the AL championship series back to New York for a sixth game.

It was Ortiz’s second game-winner in as many nights. His two-run homer in the 12th inning Sunday night gave Boston a 6-4 victory that avoided a four-game sweep by its bitter rival.

Now the Red Sox, who were three outs away from elimination less than 24 hours earlier, are within one win of tying the best-of-seven series at three games apiece.

“This team has done something the last two days that will go down in history as an incredible accomplishment,” Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler said. “I’d like to see the record for walk-off hits. What David Ortiz has done is incredible. He’s carried us.”

A week ago, Ortiz homered in the 10th to seal the clincher as Boston swept the Anaheim Angels out of the first round. Sunday he became the only player in baseball history to hit two game-ending homers in the same postseason.

“We still have a chance,” outfielder Johnny Damon said. “We’re going out there with no pressure. We’ve done stuff we’re not supposed to be doing right now.”

Ortiz also hit a game-winning double in the eighth inning of last year’s first-round playoff series against the Oakland Athletics. In all, he has provided the decisive hit in three consecutive games where the Red Sox faced elimination at Fenway Park.

Monday night’s winner only went about 160 feet, but that was enough to bring Damon around from second after two walks to start the inning. Ortiz raised his fist as he rounded first base, while half the Red Sox ran to greet Damon at home and the other half met Ortiz on his way to second base.

Boston's David Ortiz argues after he was called out on a steal attempt in the 12th inning. Ortiz later slapped a game-winning single, helping the Red Sox win, 5-4 in 14 innings, Monday in Boston. Yankees second baseman Miguel Cairo is at left.

In the Red Sox clubhouse afterwards, while his teammates packed for the trip to New York he made possible, Ortiz called together the waiting reporters. “What’s up?” he asked. “Bring it.”

“We had so many opportunities to get it done before,” he said.

“I was thinking, ‘I’d better get it done right here. They’ve got too many hitters that can change the game with one swing of the bat.”‘

Boston has its share, too.

Ortiz hit .301 during the season and was second in the AL with 41 homers and 139 RBIs. He leads the Red Sox this series with a .478 average and nine RBIs.

He is running away with the race for ALCS Most Valuable Player — if Boston is able to win two more games in New York. But Ortiz has another goal in mind.

“I want to go to the World Series,” he said, “and win it.”

Yankees Miguel Cairo, left, Ruben Sierra, center, and Alex Rodriguez celebrate after scoring on Derek Jeter's double in the sixth inning.