Angels' title hopes come to end in ALCS

Pettitte shuts down Halos as Yanks capture pennant

Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- They endured the death of a teammate, Nick Adenhart, forging on with pride and passion in his memory.

Now it was over, an improbable season of tragedy and no small measure of success, and that's always painful.

A winter of uncertainty ahead with one-fourth of the roster eligible for free agency, the Angels packed their bags on Sunday night and graciously commended their conquerors, the Yankees, who move on to engage the Phillies in the World Series in the afterglow of a 5-2 triumph in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

"We had to overcome a lot of obstacles this season, and we have nothing to hang our heads about," Torii Hunter said. "We had a great season, and I wish the Yankees luck in the World Series. They've got some of my favorite players over there, and I'll be rooting for them. Why not? I'm an American League guy."

The Angels' postseason run came grinding to a halt at Yankee Stadium, where experience and poise separated the AL champion Yankees from the West Coast aspirants.

"The best teacher in any sport or in life is experience," said Joe Saunders, outpitched in the finale by venerable Andy Pettitte. "You can't teach experience. We have a lot of things to build on here."

Pettitte, establishing a record with his 16th postseason win, held the Angels in check for 6 1/3 innings, and the great Mariano Rivera finished the job with two innings to send the Bronx Bombers into their 40th World Series and first since 2003.

A potential slugfest with the Phillies unfolds on Wednesday in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees will gun for their 27th World Series championship.

"They played an incredible series," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They outplayed us, and they deserved to win.