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Show Sox Cleveland 11 Padres 3 Astros. The Salt Lake Tribune z= — SPORTS 2 1 INSIDE “BIBUSINESS Solitude agrees to se condo developer 1B-7 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER30, 1998 s Wells for Yanks Against Texas GORDON MONSON New York takes Game| of A.L. division series Say It Ain’t So — Is BYU Really Playing Some D? BY BEN WALKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWYORK — David Wells delivered a perfect postseason start for the New York Yankees. Playing their most important game in nearly six months, the Yankees looked Theyare the two unlikeliest words. everybit like the winningest teamin Al history. beating the Texas Rangers 2-0 Oxymoronic. Polar concepts. Not to be used comfortably in the same phrase. BYU... and ... defense. They go together like Feay. clo- series. sure... and... fun. Like Janet Reno id ... bikini. Like Mr. games to finish with 114 victories picked up exactly wherethey left off. Wells, whose perfect game in May President id... fidelity. Like the WAC ... and . Top 25. And, yet, here we are running themtogetherall snuglike, without shrieking, weeping, laughing, smirking, ridiculing. highlighted NewYork's dreamyear, improved to 5-0 in postseason action with the Yankees, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Toronto. Theleft-hander gaveup five hits and BYUdefense. struck out nine. He kept Juan Gonzalez As though theyare perfectly natural. As though they are Rogers-andAstairean. As though the scores — see if you can match themto specific games of the past — 58-56, 52-52, 50-39, 57-28 have been blotted out. As though Provo,not Pittsburgh, is from hitting a ball out of the infield and escaped his only real jam by fanning Mike Simmsto endthe seventh with runners onfirst and second. Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for a save as the Yankees won one monthto the daytheyclinched a playoff spot in August. hometo the Steel Curtain. Todd Stottlemyre nearly matched This year,it is. Lookat the stat sheet. BYU ranks first in the WAC in rush defense,efficiency against the pass andtotal defense. The Cougars are giving up 291 yards a game. They used to give up that much somewhere between . the rockets’ red glare .. and| . the bombsbursting in air . BYUiis most impressive against| the run, ranking ninth in the nation, allowing an average of 75 yards. Mar- y night in Game1 of their division Wellspitched vight strong innings as the Yankees, who won their final seven Wells, allowing just six hits andstriking out eight for a complete game in front of his father, Mel, New York's pitching ‘oach. The Stottlemyre family affair surely Amy Sancetta TheAssociated Press Boston Red Sox hitter Nomar Garciaparra,left, watcheshisfifth-inning, three-run homerleave the park, as do Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar and umpire Dale Scott. The Red Sox took Game 1 of their American League Division Series Tuesday, defeating Cleveland 11-3. See game story and more baseball inside, B4. shall Faulk used to roll for that manyagainst the Cougars on the created some anxious moments. The wives of both Mel and Toddsat in the Yankees’ familysection, and did not hes- itate to cheer when a NewYork runner See YANKS,Page B-4 game's opening drive. It's too freaky. Pads’ Brown Imitates Big Unit, has played three of its toughest opponents this season in its first four Shoots Down Astros in Game 1 ington’s offenses combined can hang just 13 points on the Cougar D, what San Diego’sstarter whiffs 16 in 8 innings. Game 2 on Thursday More than O in Provo. Especially considering that BYU games. If Arizona State's and Washshould be expected from San Jose E WILSON PRESS State and UTEP? Donuts andbagels. “That's what we want,” says Chris Ellison, senior strong safety. “We HOUSTON — The marquee matchup between Randy Johnson and Kevin Brownlived up to expectations — close, wantto win,first, and we wantto shut out other teams. We know we can play. We know we're good. We're notsitting aroundtalking and tense and fullofstrikeouts. The kicker, though, was that Brown did an awesomeimitation of Johnson, resting, we're working hard, but we knowit’s hard to run against us. We know wecan stop other teams.” showing up the Big Unit in the Astrodomeas the San Diego Padres beat the HoustonAstros2-1 in the opening game LaVell Edwards knows, too. Now in his 27th season, the coach says this defensive bunch might behis of their NL divisionseries. Brownstruck out 16 and allowed just twohitsin eight inningsin a brilliant per- best: “They''re playing as well as any defense we've ever had,” he says. formanceas the Padres stole home-field enae‘re playing with confiConlidens isn’t a big enough ord. “There's no fear in this defense,” says junior middle linebacker Rob Morris, the team’s unofficial voice. “We're like a band of bees. Weattack. Wecould go upagainst any offense in the country and not be one did.” Astros manager Larry Dierker said Brown was“as dominantas you can be. other than a pitching a no-hitter. There wasn't more he could have done.” Both aces were obtained in trades to try to get their teams to the World Series. Brown wastherelast year, winning a ring with Florida, but became expendable along with the other high-priced Marlins and was snapped up for three prospects. The Astros got Johnson from the Seattle Mariners at the July31 trading deadline. advantagein the best-of-5 series. Brown'sstrikeouts were the most ever Noonelikes facing Johnson, and the Astros found out how brutal it can be in division series play and just one short of Bob Gibson's postseason-record 17 in facing Brown. “It was a very dominating perfor- Theright-handersaid this was a bigger gamethan the no-hitter he pitched for the Florida Marlinsin 1997. “T'll take this one any time because of the impact of the situation,” he said. last four postseason decisions. “Now I know whya lot of the hitters drag their bats back,” added Johnson. the 1968 World Series. J. Pat Carter/The Associated Press San Diego's Jim Leyritz, right, is greeted by his teammatesafterhitting a sacrifice fly in the Padres’ 2-1 win Tuesday overthe Astros. “Being in the regular season, that didn't have the meaningfor the team that this mance,” said Johnson, who haslost his See PADRES,Page B-4 afraid. This defense can be one of the best anywhere. We're just mean and ornery, and we hit. Welike to beat teams up. There’s no messii around outthere. If a team picks up first down against us, we're insulted. When wewere up 29-0 against MurrayState, and they finally scored, guys on thesideline were frustrated and angry. Against ArizonaState, we were up 26-zip and whenthey scored, it was, like, frus- trating. Guys were upset. Butthat’s the way this defense is. Andthat's a big difference from back in the past.” Back when BYU’s defense had the look of a freeway on-ramp. Defensive coordinator Ken Schmidt, in his 17th season, remembers those days and that’s exactly whyhe’s exulting now. He knows his defense has everything, except depth in the backfield: a bevy of defensive linemen, whomherevolves in and out of games,led by defensive end Byron Frisch; linebackers, including Morris, who Schmidt says has a “great” pro career ahead of him, and defensive cover men like He- shimu Robertson. “They have good chemistry,” the coach says. “And they have an attitude of eave: ness. We're solid, with no real weaknesses. “I'm cranked. This is fun.” No,this is outrageous, totally un- heard of. Says Ellison: “We knowit's up to the defense to win here. We that defense wins championships.” In Provo? sieaswhen?This is too, too weird. Youngest Player in Camp Turnsin Big Performances to Stay on Utah’s Roster BY BRETT PRETTYMAN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE WEST VALLEY CITY — Marty Johnston has impressed Utah Grizzlies Coach Butch Goring throughouttraining camp TONIGHT’S EXHIBITION Opponent: Longong Beach. Place: OgdenIce heel, 7 pm. Grizz Mill: A preview of the season-openeras Utah hosts Long Beach Oct. 10 atthe E Center. by skating with confidence andscoring a goal in an intrasquad gameandin each of two exhibitions. Butit may befor an entirely different reason that Johnston ends up on the Utah roster when the seasonstarts Oct. 10 at the E Center. “He is a small guy whoplaysbig. I relate to him,” said Goring of the 5-foot8 free agent. For the record, Goringis 5foot-9. “Small guys have to have that confidence. Speaking from personal experience, no one hands you a hockey career at that size; you have to havea lot more determination and you have to work hard.” Johnston, 19, also is the youngestplayer in camp. He and Colin Chaulk were the only free-agent forwards not cut when Goring trimmedthetraining camp roster Monday. TheGrizzlies play their third exhibition game tonight at 7 against Long Beach atthe Ice Sheet in “T'm far from making the team,” said Johnston. “I'm not satisfied with my contracts. Goring said he wants to keep 10 or 11 forwards, depending on other transactions. That means Johnston and Chaulk are battling for one spot — unless Goring brings in an NHL player and they both loseout. “I was hoping I wouldn't be released during the cuts,” said Johnston. “I knew it would be possible. There are lot of good players here. I try not to worry about thingslike that, just about how I’m playing.” Johnston served as team captain for Hullof the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last year, when he scored 102 points and helped win the Memorial Cup. If Johnston needs a role model, per- hapshe should look up — or down,as the case may be — to Patrice Lefebvreof the Las Vegas Thunder. The5-foot-7 skater was the IHL’s leading scorer last year with 116 points. Q play, I want to keep improving and play AVALANCHE GOALIE Colorado Avalanche goalie Petr Of the 12 forwards in camp, 10 have See JOHNSTON, Page B-2 better every day.” \ Trent Nelson/The Salt LakeTribune Four Heads But Only One SocccerBall Olympusplayers Becky Fisher (7) and Beck Blum battle with East's Carolyn Wills and Jamie Steffensen, far right. Olympus won,2-1. See story, B3. |
