Voit, Torres homer as Yankees defeat Rays to force Game 5

SAN DIEGO – The New York Yankees didn’t flinch under the pressure of an elimination game and got the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay into the hands of ace Gerrit Cole for the decisive Game 5.

Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres hit impressive home runs, Jordan Montgomery and three relievers were brilliant in combining on a three-hitter and the Yankees beat the Rays 5-1 Thursday night to even the best-of-5 series at 2-2.

The Yankees bounced back from consecutive losses against their AL East rivals to set up a showdown between Cole and Tyler Glasnow on Friday night.

Asked the Yankees mentality for Game 5, Voit said, “We’re going to win it.”

And with Cole on the mound, “We’re locked and loaded,” Voit said.

Cole, backed by four home runs, won 9-3 in the series opener Monday and will be pitching on short rest for the first time in his big league career. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the decision was made when he passed his ace Thursday and made eye contact.

“Hey, give me the ball,” he remembered Cole saying.

Cole said he took inspiration from watching CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Dallas Keuchel carry teams on short rest.

“When the lights turn on, it doesn’t matter if it’s three, four, five, six, seven days,” Cole said. “Ït’s a special opportunity.”

Cole will be pitching about 100 miles south of where he grew up a Yankees fan in Newport Beach.

“I think everybody’s feeling like it’s going to be a special game,” said Cole, who pitched at UCLA