The Angels emerged from this back-and-forth series as each team stole a game on the road before Anaheim wrapped it up at Angel Stadium in Game 5. All five of the Angels' runs in the clincher came in the first three innings against Yankees starter Mike Mussina.

Anaheim's Bengie Molina and New York's Jason Giambi each had eight hits in the series. Molina hit three homers and drove in five, and Derek Jeter hit two home runs and also drove in five. Garret Anderson drove in seven for the Angels in the series.

Kelvim Escobar made four appearances out of the Anaheim bullpen, scattering one run and two hits over seven innings and picking up the Game 2 win.

Path to the ALDS: Anaheim (95-67) won the AL West by seven games; New York (95-67) finished the regular season tied for first in the AL East with Boston, and was awarded the division title because it won the head-to-head regular-season series 

Managers: Mike Scioscia, ANA; Joe Torre, NYY