MLB: NY Yankees 10, LA Angels 1

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- CC Sabathia won his third game of the playoffs Tuesday and the New York Yankees moved within reach of the World Series by mauling the Los Angeles Angels 10-1.

Pitching on three days rest, Sabathia allowed five hits and struck out five in helping the Yankees take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. A win Thursday in Game 5, which will be hosted by Los Angeles, will put the Yankees in the World Series for the 40th time in franchise history.

Sabathia dueled with Los Angeles starter Scott Kazmir through three scoreless innings. The Yankees then attacked five Angels' pitchers with a steady onslaught of offense that included two-run homers by Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon.

The home run by Rodriguez in the fifth inning was his fifth of this year's playoffs and the 12th post-season blast of his career.

New York opened the scoring by sending eight men to the plate in the fourth inning. Rodriguez scored the first run when he beat second baseman Howie Kendrick's throw home on a grounder by Robinson Cano. Melky Cabrera singled home two runs later in the inning and added a two-run double in the ninth.

Sabathia also pitched eight innings in winning the opening game of the ALCS and got the Yankees off to a hot start in the playoffs by capturing the first game of the division series against Minnesota.

He also pitched on three days rest for Milwaukee in last year's playoffs, but gave up five runs to Philadelphia in that outing in just 3 2/3 innings.

With a huge lead, the Yankees were able to rest closer Mariano Rivera and sent Chad Gaudin out to work a 1-2-3 ninth.