NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Aaron Boone's leadoff homer in the 11th inning Thursday night gave New York a 6-5 win over Boston, putting the Yankees in the World Series.
Boone hit the first pitch from Tim Wakefield into the left field seats to end the fourth extra-inning, seventh game in Major League playoff history.
Boston owned a 5-2 lead in the eighth, but the Yankees rallied to tie it and closer Mariano Rivera kept it deadlocked with his first three-inning stint in seven years.
Four of Boston's runs came on homers -- a two-run blast by Trot Nixon in the second, a solo shot by Kevin Millar in the fourth and another solo effort by David Ortiz in the eighth.
In the New York eighth, Bernie Williams singled in a run and Jorge Posada delivered a two-run, bloop double to tie it.
New York will host Game 1 of the World Series Saturday night against Florida.
