Yankees triumph

The New York Yankees put together six runs on three homers in the third inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 and reach their first World Series since 1981 against St Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves.

Sunday's home runs - by Jim Leyritz, Cecil Fielder and Darryl Strawberry - were more than enough for Andy Pettitte, who pitched eight strong innings as the Yankees settled the best-of-seven American League Championship Series 4-1.

Yankees' centerfielder Bernie Williams - 2 for 5 on Sunday - was named the Most Valuable Player in the ALCS. He hit safely in all nine post-season games and 0.474 in the five games against Baltimore with two home runs.

In the National League Championship, Brian Jordan hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the St Louis Cardinals rallied from three runs down to beat the visiting Atlanta Braves 4-3. The Cardinals are now within one win of the World Series.