Los Angeles Angels edged the New York Yankees 5-4 to reduce their deficit in the best-of-seven American League C'ship Series to 2-1.

Jeff Mathis had struck a two-out double in the 11th inning.

The Yankees had stormed into a 3-0 lead thanks to homers by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon.

But Los Angeles responded with a homer by Howie Kendrick in the fifth inning and then levelled in the sixth with a two-run blast from Vladimir Guerrero.

The Angels went ahead in the seventh when Maicer Izturis, whose error cost his team game two, came up and hit a sacrifice fly.

Jorge Posada squared the encounter once again at 4-4 in the eighth with New York's fourth solo homer of the game, leaving all to play for in the extra innings.

In the end it was left to Mathis to drive in the decisive run with a two-out double in the bottom of the 11th to end the Yankees' perfect post-season record.

The Angels' back-up catcher smashed a long double off the left-field wall and Kendrick slid home from first base well ahead of a desperate throw.

The series continues with game four in Los Angeles on Tuesday.