Yankees still breathing

New York edges Los Angeles, 3-2, forces deciding game tonight

? Hardly any time to feel satisfied for Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and the Yankees.

They packed their bags and bolted for the airport – New York is still around in these playoffs and has much more work to do.

Slow-footed catcher Jorge Posada barely beat the tag for the go-ahead run on Jeter’s seventh-inning bouncer, and New York scratched out a 3-2 victory Sunday night over the Los Angeles Angels to force a decisive fifth game in California.

Pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra came through with a tying single and, with Yankee Stadium rocking, Rivera retired Vladimir Guerrero for the final out to finish off a two-inning save as the Yankees evened the best-of-five AL playoff series at two games apiece.

“The whole game was a grinder, we did a lot of things well,” Posada said. “It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t go out there and play the way we’re supposed to.”

After a rainout on Saturday postponed Game 4, the teams must now fly cross-country overnight to play tonight in Anaheim at 7:15 p.m. Both scheduled pitchers were already waiting out West – Game 1 winner Mike Mussina and Angels ace Bartolo Colon.

“It’s a long flight for both teams,” Los Angeles outfielder Steve Finley said. “This team is not going to hang its head. We’re going to come back tomorrow with the same energy we had today.”

Thanks to yet another New York comeback, this first-round series is the only one to go the distance in 2005. The winner Monday faces the Chicago White Sox Tuesday night in the AL championship series.

Enthusiastic New York Yankees fans display a sign that pretty much said it all: California or Bust refers to the desire to force a Game Five in Anaheim, Calif. The Yanks did just that Sunday, 3-2, in New York.

Reliever Rivera said he would be ready to throw two innings again in Game 5 if needed.

“I can’t stop,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be the big one.”

Trying to knock New York out of the playoffs for the second time in four seasons, the Angels built a 2-1 series lead on airtight defense and a deep bullpen. This time, both betrayed them.

With the Yankees trailing 2-1, Robinson Cano reached on an infield single to start the seventh and Posada drew a one-out walk from losing pitcher Scot Shields.

Sierra, batting for No. 9 hitter Bubba Crosby, grounded a sharp single to right and Cano scored standing up despite a strong throw from Guerrero, leaving runners at the corners.

Jeter topped a slow bouncer to third, forcing Chone Figgins to charge the ball.

Figgins, who made a couple of outstanding defensive plays earlier in the series, bounced a wide throw to the plate, and Posada skidded in on an aborted slide.

Catcher Bengie Molina argued the call, as did Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

But after his teammates viewed a replay and told him what they saw, Molina agreed that Posada was safe.

“It’s a tough play. Two strikes, I’m playing back and the guy’s going on contact,” said Figgins, adding that the ball was a little wet when he grabbed for a grip.

Al Leiter got Darin Erstad to ground into an inning-ending double play in the seventh. With the season on the line, Rivera recorded six outs for his record 34th career postseason save and second of the series.

While Shawn Chacon went 10 days between starts, Los Angeles’ John Lackey was pitching on only three days’ rest. After a no-decision in Game 2, he was told Sunday morning that he would need to step in for scheduled starter Jarrod Washburn, scratched because of a throat infection and fever.

“That was an outstanding performance by John Lackey,” Scioscia said. “Unfortunately, Chacon matched him.”