BOSTON (Ticker) -- Orlando Hernandez hopes he can help the New York Yankees wrap up their 36th American League pennant tonight when they battle the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

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Hernandez (1-0, 1.13 ERA) was the Game 1 starter Wednesday, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits over eight innings without a decision in a 4-3 victory. "El Duque" defeated Texas in Game 1 of the Division Series, firing eight scoreless innings and yielding two hits in an 8-0 triumph.

Hernandez went 2-1 against the Red Sox in the regular season, surrendering six runs and 13 hits over 20 innings with a 2.70 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

The Yankees put themselves in this spot on the strength of their 9-2 victory Sunday in Game 4 to gain a 3-1 series lead. Andy Pettitte allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings and New York scored six runs in the ninth, including a grand slam by Ricky Ledee.

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Following a second questionable call against the Red Sox, the fans at Fenway Park threw debris at the Yankees and umpires in the ninth inning. The umpires then removed the teams from the field.

New York has won 13 of its last 14 postseason contests while the Red Sox have dropped 11 of their last 12 ALCS games. The Yankees have won six of their seven ALCS, with their only loss coming against Kansas City in 1980.

A loss will give Boston its 81st consecutive year without a World Series title.

Kent Mercker (0-0, 6.35) hopes he can be the Red Sox's savior. He also pitched in Game 1, yielding two runs and six hits over four innings without a decision. His other start was Game 4 of the Division Series against Cleveland as he gave up two runs and three hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Mercker was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in August and did not pitch against New York in the regular season.

Game 6, if necessary, is Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

NY YANKEES	BOSTON
CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS Oct. 5 Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Texas Texas @ Texas W 8-0 W 3-1 W 3-0	CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS Oct. 6 Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 11 @ Cleveland @ Cleveland Cleveland Cleveland @ Cleveland L 2-3 L 1-11 W 9-3 W 23-7 W 12-8

New York regulars

POS

NO

PLAYER

HT

WT

B/T

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

AVG

C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH

20 25 24 11 18 2 17 51 21 45 39

Jorge Posada Joe Girardi Tino Martinez Chuck Knoblauch Scott Brosius Derek Jeter Ricky Ledee Bernie Williams Paul O'Neill Chili Davis Darryl Strawberry

6-2 5-11 6-2 5-9 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-6

205 200 210 170 202 195 160 205 215 240 215

B-R R-R L-R R-R R-R R-R L-L B-R L-L B-R L-L

379 209 589 603 473 627 250 591 597 476 49

93 50 155 176 117 219 69 202 170 128 16

19 16 27 36 26 37 13 28 39 25 5

2 1 2 4 1 9 5 6 4 1 0

12 2 28 18 17 24 9 25 19 19 3

57 27 105 68 71 102 40 115 110 78 6

.245 .239 .263 .292 .247 .349 .276 .342 .285 .269 .327

Complete New York roster

Boston regulars

POS

NO

PLAYER

HT

WT

B/T

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

AVG

C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH

33 24 30 13 5 25 20 7 18 23

Jason Varitek Mike Stanley Jose Offerman John Valentin Nomar Garciaparra Troy O'Leary Darren Lewis Trot Nixon Reggie Jefferson Brian Daubach

6-2 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-4 6-1

220 205 190 185 180 200 190 200 215 201

B-R R-R B-R R-R R-R L-L R-R L-L L-L L-R

483 427 586 450 532 596 470 381 206 381

130 120 172 114 190 167 113 103 57 112

39 22 37 27 42 36 14 22 13 33

2 0 11 1 4 4 6 5 1 3

20 19 8 12 27 28 2 15 5 21

76 72 69 70 104 103 40 52 17 73

.269 .281 .294 .253 .357 .280 .240 .270 .277 .294

Complete Boston roster

Regulars Statistics source: STATS, Inc.

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