New York sweeps final three games

NEW YORK -- With no margin for error, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees' pinstriped dynasty persevered with one of the great comebacks in baseball history.

As Jeter solidified his place in Yankees' lore, the three-time defending World Series champions became the first team ever to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.

New York fell behind early as Roger Clemens stumbled, then seized on Oakland's youthful nerves to beat the Athletics 5-3 in the deciding Game 5 Monday night and advance to the AL championship series.

Alfonso Soriano started the comeback with a two-run single, New York created two runs from three errors and David Justice capped the comeback with a pinch-hit home run into the right-field seats -- his first RBI in 62 at-bats.

Then came Jeter, whose amazing backhand flip to the plate following an overthrow preserved the Yankees' 1-0 win in Game 3 -- and turned the series.

After getting two hits to break Pete Rose's postseason record with 87, Jeter showed the heart and skill of a champion.

With a runner on first in the eighth, he dived headlong into the photographer's box behind third base to catch Terrence Long's foul pop. The runner advanced, but was stranded, and after the inning Jeter bandaged his elbow cut.

With the delirious Bronx crowd chanting at fever pitch, Mariano Rivera closed it out, capping 4 2-3 innings of shutout, two-hit relief started by winner Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza.

New York, trying to become only the third team to win the World Series four straight times, opens the AL championship Wednesday at Seattle, with renewed confidence that nothing is outside its grasp.

Clemens fell behind 2-0 in the first two innings. The Giambi brothers hit RBI singles that put Oakland ahead, with Jason -- who went 4-for-4 -- connecting in the first after Johnny Damon's leadoff double and Jeremy in the second following Long's double.

But then the Yankees' resolve, the refusal not to give in that has led them to four World Series titles in five years under manager Joe Torre, kicked in while the A's buckled.

Soriano, one of the rookies added this year to an ever-changing roster, started it with a two-run single in the second off Mark Mulder, who had shut down the Yankees in the opener.

Soriano's hit came after Scott Brosius, in a horrible slump, loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch on the foot.

An innocent strikeout by Bernie Williams started the collapse in the third. The ball skipped away from catcher Greg Myers, who got it in plenty of time to throw to first for the out, but his throw bounced under the glove of Jason Giambi at first and into right field as Williams reached.

Tino Martinez was hit on a hip by a pitch and Shane Spencer loaded the bases with a two-out walk. Brosius then hit a grounder to third and Eric Chavez, appearing distracted as Martinez crossed in front of him, let the ball pop out of his glove as Williams scored the go-ahead run.