New York took advantage of shoddy defence by Cleveland to beat the Indians 7-3 and extend their American League (AL) Division Series to a decisive game five.
Yankees pitcher Luis Severino was on song, Gary Sanchez homered and Aaron Judge laced an early two-run double for his only hit of the series to go with 12 strikeouts in 15 at-bats.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer struggled on three days' rest and was chased in the second inning.
But it was on the wet Yankee Stadium field where the Indians really flopped, committing a season-high four errors that marked a franchise record for a postseason game and led to six unearned runs.
The defending AL champions made only 76 errors all season, the lowest total in the league.
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The Yankees will start CC Sabathia in the decisive game in Cleveland on Wednesday while Corey Kluber will start for the Indians.
The winner will meet Houston in the AL championship series after a 5-4 win over Boston in game four sealed their Division Series.
With the Astros' Justin Verlander and Red Sox's Chris Sale -- the game one starters -- both pressed into relief, Houston prevailed at Fenway Park.
Alex Bregman homered off Sale to tie the game in the eighth and Josh Reddick hit an RBI single off closer Craig Kimbrel later in the inning.
The Astros last reached the league championship series in 2005 as a National League team, and were swept in the World Series by the Chicago White Sox.
Carlos Beltran added to his legacy of postseason success with an RBI double in Houston's ninth for a 5-3 lead.
Red Sox rookie Rafael Devers opened the bottom of the ninth with an inside-the-park homer off Ken Giles, who retired the next three batters for a six-out save.
Chicago have overcome Washington 2-1 at Wrigley Field to take a 2-1 lead in their National League (NL) Division Series.
Anthony Rizzo hit a go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning as the Cubs despite the best efforts of Max Scherzer.
The Nationals pitcher was dominant in his return from a right hamstring injury, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
But just like in game one, when Chicago failed to get a hit until the sixth inning by Stephen Strasburg, the champion Cubs exhibited their resilience.
Game four of the best-of-five series is Tuesday.
