Yankees stay alive in ALCS

Associated Press

NEW YORK

They were facing the end of their season and a miserable winter after that.

Not to worry, Joe Girardi said. Speaking in the wee hours before his players went home for a few hours sleep ahead of Game 5, the New York Yankees manager implored them not to give up.

“That was huge,” CC Sabathia said. “Just having us be able to relax and not panic.”

No panic here. Sabathia pitched like a champion, and the Yankees are heading for Texas.

Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano hit consecutive homers to build an early cushion, Sabathia made the lead stand up and the Yankees beat the Rangers 7-2 Wednesday to close within 3-2 in the AL championship series.

“We’re right where we need to be,” Swisher said.

A late-arriving crowd for the late-afternoon game wondered whether this would be it for the defending World Series champs after Texas outscored them 25-5 while winning three straight.

A difficult comeback? Yes.

Impossible? No.

As Girardi remembered telling his players, “Before we lost the three games in a row, we won four in a row.” He added: “Just look at tomorrow. Win a game tomorrow.”

By the time Curtis Granderson hit an eighth-inning homer for his second RBI of the game, belief among the Yankees was starting to grow.

Now the teams will go deep in the heart of Texas to decide the pennant in the best-of-seven series. When they resume in Arlington for Game 6, Phil Hughes starts for the Yankees against Colby Lewis in a rematch of Game 2, won by the Rangers 7-2.

“It’s great. We’re going back home,” Lewis said. “We’ve got to win one out of two.”

Texas may be holding the ultimate postseason ace in the hole: Cliff Lee would start a Game 7 against Andy Pettitte.

“Who cares about Cliff going in Game 7?” Texas right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. “We’ve got a game to win in Game 6.”

Still, Lee’s 7-0 postseason record is on their minds. In the 50th anniversary of a franchise that has never reached the World Series, Texas remains one win away.

“Crazier things have happened,” Swisher said.

Girardi had sensed a change in attitude.

“There was determination that we were going to go out and play our game today,” he said. “I saw it during BP.”

Sabathia allowed two runs and 11 hits — matching his season high — in six innings with no walks.