Gonzalez rescues Marlins

Game One: Yankees 2-3 Marlins Game two: Yankees 6-1 Marlins Game three: Marlins 1-6 Yankees

Alex Gonzalez hit a dramatic 12th-inning homer as the Florida Marlins survived a major scare against the New York Yankees to level the World Series at 2-2.

The Marlins were within one strikeout of victory in the ninth when Ruben Sierra hit a two-run triple for the Yankees off reliever Ugueth Urbina to tie the game at 3-3.

And they hung on when the Yankees had the bases loaded in the 11th before Gonzalez hit a pitch from reliever Jeff Weaver over the left field wall to end a marathon which lasted four hours and three minutes.

Yankees pitching legend Roger Clemens exited the game in the seventh inning to a standing ovation from the Florida crowd after striking out Luis Castillo.

But there is still a chance Clemens will pitch again if the series goes to a deciding seventh game.

He gave up five consecutive two-out hits in the first inning, including a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera, but followed that with six straight shutout innings.

While Clemens did not win, the Yankees at least made sure he did not lose.

Clemens signed off with a strike-out

Shut down for eight innings by Carl Pavano, they came back in the ninth against Urbina.

Bernie Williams singled with one out, Hideki Matsui walked and Jorge Posada grounded into a force play.

David Dellucci came in to run for Posada, and Sierra fouled off two full-count pitches before tripling into the right-field corner.

Marlins reliever Braden Looper pitched 1.66 scoreless innings for the win, while Weaver took the loss.

"I'm so excited for that, to hit a home run in the World Series," said Gonzalez.

Florida manager Jack McKeon added: "I was so happy to see him hit the home run to win the game because he had been struggling. Maybe this will be just the tonic that he needs."

The Yankees had won seven straight extra-inning games in the World Series since 1964.

Game Five takes place back at the Pro Player Stadium on Thursday before the series moves to Yankee Stadium at the weekend.

David Wells will start against Florida's Brad Penny in a rematch of the opener, which the Marlins won 3-2.