ANAHEIM, Calif. - With an injured ace and a struggling slugger, the Los Angeles Angels turned to a few seasoned veterans and a poised rookie pitcher making his postseason debut.

And the Angels eliminated the Yankees playing the way they did all year: with solid defense, aggressive at-bats and another strong night by the entire pitching staff.

Ervin Santana bailed out the Angels when Bartolo Colon left early with a stiff shoulder, Adam Kennedy hit a go-ahead triple that sent Yankees outfielders crashing to the ground, and Los Angeles advanced to the AL championship series with a 5-3 victory over New York Monday night in the decisive Game 5 of their first-round series.

"It shows you something about this team. Different guys know how to step up," catcher Bengie Molina said between champagne showers from younger brother, Jose.

Garret Anderson homered and drove in two runs, and the Angels produced enough offense despite getting no RBI in the series from reigning AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero.

Less than 24 hours after arriving in California, the Angels got ready to leave for the start of the ALCS against the White Sox in Chicago tonight.

Santana, who started the season at Double-A, replaced Colon in the second inning and got the win by allowing three runs and five hits in 5

innings. He "had flashes of brilliance" according to Angels manager Mike Scioscia and left to a standing ovation with one out in the seventh after allowing a leadoff homer to Derek Jeter.

"I don't have to be nervous," Santana said. "It's a baseball game."

George Steinbrenner's $203 million Yankees again learned that money doesn't buy success. Even with Randy Johnson coming out of the bullpen for 4

shutout innings, New York was eliminated by the Angels in the first round for the second time in four seasons, scoring 20 runs in the five games with four homers - all solo shots.

"It was a street fight," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I'm more disappointed than last year. I felt deep down that we would get it done."

Just like last season, when the Yankees lost four straight against Boston after taking a 3-0 ALCS lead, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield were nearly invisible when New York needed their bats most. Rodriguez, the $252 million man, hit into a double play after Jeter's leadoff single in the ninth.

"This is as low as it gets," A-Rod said. "It's one of those things you can't figure out. ... I've got to take a long look in the mirror at myself because I didn't do my part. I mean, you win and lose as a team, but I didn't show up."

The Yankees got two singles after Rodriguez's double play, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. But Francisco Rodriguez retired Hideki Matsui on a sharp grounder to first for his second save of the series.

The Angels threw their arms up in celebration and formed a group hug near first base, fireworks going off behind them beyond the outfield and streamers coming from the upper bleachers as they advanced to the ALCS for the first time since winning the World Series in 2002.

After winning four World Series in their first five seasons under Torre, the Yankees are without a title since 2000.

"We don't play to just make it to the playoffs, we've been to the playoffs before," Jeter said. "We play to win, and we fell short again."