updated 1:01 p.m. ET Oct. 11, 2005

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Alex Rodriguez’s most significant play of this AL division series may be remembered as one he didn’t make — with his glove.

Rodriguez, whose fielding error led to the tying run for the Angels in their Game 2 victory, certainly didn’t leave much of an impression with his bat.

He was hitless in Monday night’s 5-3 loss that sent the Yankees home for the year, and finished the five-game series with no RBIs and a .133 batting average.

He felt he let his teammates down.

“I played great baseball all year, and I played like a dog the last five days. I can’t put it into words. This is as low as it gets. I felt good, I saw the ball well,” Rodriguez said. “If I would have contributed some, maybe we would be moving on to Chicago.

“I’ve got to take a long look in the mirror because I didn’t do my part. I mean, you win and lose as a team, but I didn’t show up.”

He wasn’t the only one.

Gary Sheffield, quiet most of the series, had three hits in Game 5, but all singles. He didn’t have an extra-base hit in the series and drove in only two runs.

Hideki Matsui had a similar five games.

In the Yankees’ final at-bat of 2005, Matsui grounded out with two on. Rodriguez had already grounded into a double play earlier in the inning.

Of 11 runners the Yankees left on base, Matsui stranded eight. He was 4-for-20 in the series and had only one RBI, on a home run.

ALDS: Yankees vs. Indians Indians win series 3-1 Sizemore, Indians send Yankees packing Celizic: Plenty to blame in the Bronx End of an era for Torre?  |  A-Rod, too? Is Clemens done?  |  Limping into the sunset iPredict: Clemens to retire  |  Who wants him? Schedule, results, more

All four Yankees homers in the series were solo shots.

Rodriguez, baseball’s only $25 million-a-year player, batted .321 during the regular season, with 48 homers and 130 RBIs.

“It’s disappointing because this was such a year of trials and tribulations for us. We played so well down the stretch, and to end in this fashion is disappointing,” Rodriguez said.

Sheffield hit .291 with 34 homers and 123 RBIs. Matsui batted .305, hit 23 home runs and had 116 RBIs.

INTERACTIVE Position breakdowns, predictions, more

George Steinbrenner once called Dave Winfield “Mr. May” after he went 1-for-22 in the 1981 World Series loss to the Dodgers. The Yankees owner may have some new names for some of his stars after their failures in consecutive postseasons.

Rodriguez was 2-for-17 and Sheffield had one hit in 17 at-bats in the final four games of last year’s AL championship series while the Yankees were in the process of blowing a 3-0 lead against the Red Sox.

“You know we’re capable,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said after the loss to the Angels. “It’s always talking about the thumpers and all of the big things we can do.”

Same as in the ALCS collapse a year earlier, the Yankees didn’t do much thumping.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

At least a couple held up their end: leadoff man Derek Jeter batted .333 with two homers and five RBIs in the series, and Jason Giambi hit .421 with three doubles, although he drove in only two runs.

Rodriguez believes the Yankees are much better than they showed.

“This team has a lot of potential, and we’ll be back,” he said.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return MLB blog: Red Sox preparing to spend big bucks? Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Blog: Cards ‘have options’ if they can’t keep Holliday   Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: