-By Anthony Crupi

In what proved to be the most-watched game of the 2009 MLB playoffs, the New York Yankees on Sunday night won their 40th American League pennant, eliminating the Angels four games to two.

Game 6 of the American League Championship Series drew a 9.3 rating/15 share, an improvement of 37 percent versus Fox’ most recent sixth LCS, the Oct. 20, 2007, Red Sox-Indians contest that drew a 6.8/13.

Per Nielsen estimates, Fox averaged around 15.5 million viewers between 8:17 p.m. and 12:03 a.m. EDT, with a peak draw of 17.1 million viewers as Yankees ace closer Mariano Rivera blew a cut fastball past Angels’ pinch-hitter Gary Matthews, Jr., to secure New York’s first World Series appearance since 2003.

All told, Fox’ presentation of the 2009 ALCS averaged a 6.5/12 and 10.3 million viewers, a 35 percent increase over last season’s five-game NLCS.

A Saturday night rainout pushed the Yankees against another hometown favorite, as the New York Giants hosted the Arizona Cardinals over on NBC Sunday night. The Giants’ 24-17 defeat drew a 10.4 rating/16 share.

Local sports fans were much more vested in what was going down in the Bronx, as the Yanks drew a 26.4/40 in the New York market, while the Giants posted a 9.3/14.

Fox’ World Series coverage begins Wednesday, Oct. 28.