PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Luis Hernandez had a goal and three assists as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Tampa Bay Mutiny 5-2 Wednesday night to win an MLS quarterfinal playoff series.

Los Angeles won two straight games in the best-of-3 series to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in the club's five-year history. The Galaxy will face either Kansas City or Colorado in the best-of-3 semifinals. The Wizards lead that series with a victory and a tie, with Game 3 at Kansas City on Sunday.

"I've always felt Luis would be a player who would come through in a big game," Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said of Hernandez, who had just four goals and six assists in 16 regular-season games after signing a three-year contract worth $4.5 million -- richest in MLS history, when the season was two months old.

"His energy was good, and his connection with Cien (Mauricio Cienfuegos) and Cobi (Jones) was very good," Schmid said. "It was unfortunate he didn't get three goals. He had two golden opportunities in the first half."

Ezra Hendrickson scored in the 14th minute as the Galaxy scored the game's first two goals at the Rose Bowl.

After Cobi Jones forced a turnover, Mauricio Cienfuegos quickly passed the loose ball to Hendrickson. Defender Steve Trittschuh bumped Hendrickson from behind, but Hendrickson's 15-yard shot rolled inside the left post.

In the 19th minute, Brian Kelly extended the lead to 2-0. Hernandez chipped the ball to Simon Elliott on a give-and-go. Defender Ritchie Kotschau pulled Elliott down from behind just as Elliott passed to Kelly, who converted a shot from five yards.

Mamadou Diallo, the league's leading goal scorer, scored both of Tampa Bay's goals, the first in the 21st minute with a powerful 19-yard shot. Teammate Dominic Kinnear almost tied the score in the 30th minute with a 29-yard free kick that goalkeeper Kevin Hartman tipped over the crossbar.

Hernandez and Cienfuegos scored goals early in the second half to open a 4-1 lead. Hernandez chipped a ball to Cienfuegos at the right side of the penalty area, and Cienfuegos returned a pass that Hernandez sent into the goal from his right shin from six yards out in the 48th minute, his first MLS playoff goal.

Three minutes later, Cienfuegos scored off another Hernandez chip. Goalkeeper Scott Garlick tried to make a diving save but could not retain possession, and Cienfuegos scored into an empty net.

"We did not apply pressure in the midfield early enough," Mutiny coach Tim Hankinson said. "Cobi and Hernandez had too much freedom, and we couldn't stay with Cienfuegos well enough. Not being good enough as a team defensively has been the shortcoming of our season."

Diallo scored in the 67th minute, then Hernandez assisted on a goal by Jones in the 85th minute.