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Holy smokes, now that was a poorly-managed ball game.

The Los Angeles Angels kept their World Series dreams alive for one more night, coming away with a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the ALCS Thursday night in what turned out to be a helluva baseball game.

After striking early with a 4-0 lead off A.J. Burnett from the very first inning, the Angels waited until the seventh to blow it. Almost. Pretty much immediately after manager Mike Scioscia pulled John Lackey with two out and the bags juiced in the seventh, Darren Oliver served up a bases-clearing double to Mark Teixeira. After an intentional walk to Alex Rodriguez, Tex scored on a Hideki Matsui base hit… enter Kevin Jepsen for some more “relief.” Robinson Cano proceeded to triple home A-Rod and Matsui before Nick “Clutch” Swisher flied out to finally end the chaos.

The bottom half of the seventh kicked off with a single by Jeff Mathis and a walk to Erick Aybar, which ended Burnett’s evening. Damasco Marte surrendered a sac bunt to Chone Figgins but got the second out when Bobby Abreu grounded out to first. Phil Hughes (Blown Save!) then took the reigns, walking Torii Hunter and giving up a single to Vladimir Guerrero, which scored a run to tie it up at 6 a piece.

Kendry Morales saved the day with the go-ahead run, but the theatrics were far from over. Angels closer Brian Fuentes couldn’t find the strike zone last night if it kicked him square in the jock. He finally retired Swisher (who has a strange resemblance to a Cabbage Patch Kid: see above Jumbotron) on a full-count popup with the bases loaded.

If the rain holds off, Game 6 is set for Saturday night at the New Yankee Stadium, with Andy Pettitte (1-0, 2.84 ERA during the playoffs) facing fellow lefty Joe Saunders, who’s enjoying a 0-0 record and 2.57 postseason ERA.

[Walkoff Walk] | [The Daily Beast] | [Knuckle Curve] | [Halos Heaven]

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