The New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Sunday to clinch a return to the World Series.

Andy Pettitte set a post-season record with his 16th win as the Yankees took an unassailable 4-2 lead in the series and claimed a 40th AL pennant.

Pettitte restricted the Angels to one run and seven hits, and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings to send the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 2003 - and get Alex Rodriguez there for the first time in his 16-year career.

Bobby Abreu's RBI single against Pettitte had put the Angels 1-0 up by the end of the third inning as the visitors looked to level the series and force a seventh game on Monday.

But Johnny Damon hit a go-ahead two-run single as New York got back on track and moved to 3-1 in the fourth.

The Angels' run of committing inexplicable errors on the road continued in the eighth, allowing the Yankees a two-run rally including a sacrifice fly by Mark Teixeira.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter told Fox Sports after the game: "We're just trying to enjoy this. It's not easy to get to this point of the year.

"Any time you play at this point of the season, every round gets more and more difficult."

On the prospect of facing the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, he added: "They're the defending world champs. But we want to enjoy tonight. We'll worry about Philly tomorrow."

New York will be aiming for a 27th world crown when the best-of-seven duel with Philadelphia gets under way at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.