Show " P- rJ: f h-- ' The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday October 5 2003 — B3 ' f- - - Matsui provides the punch as Yanks take ' MINNEAPOLIS (AP)— the in Warming up bullpen Roger i Clemens heard the taunts from pitching like that you just follow his steps” said Rivera who has v redall 12 batters he’s faced Game 4 is Sunday with Johan Santana pitching for Minnesota against David Wells If the Twins win they ’ll ' play a decisive Game 5 at Yankee Stadium on Monday night “We’ve got two more games to go as for as ' we look at it” Twins manager Ron Garden-hir- e said “We feel good” They’ll have to start hitting though if they wanttokeep going The Twins managed only four hits against Andy Pettitte and Rivera in a 1 defeat in Game 2 and are batting 179 S w defi-'an- t” ! 2-- ’ ' 4-- two-inni- ng & third-bas- : I “We need some guys to step up dingy roof and the bouncy turf V Clemens gave up five hits a run and hit and we’ll see what hap-and a walk for the Victory He pens” center fielder Torii Hunter struck out six in his 23rd career said “Last year we were down ' ' against Oakland This is the sarnie postseason start has of knows what lot a “He Who thing pride” Yankees Torre said Joe can happen?” manager The crowd was roaring from Though the TWins i e didn’t put up much 'of a the start moved by ' coach A1 Newman’s ceremonial adrenaline the fight first pitch to Gardenhire Newrush for Clemens was man suffered a hemorrhage in his as strong as ever brain Sept 10 in Chicago and “If you don’t have that maybe something’s spent more than two weeks in the wrong with you” he said “I still hospital have that and I’m glad I do” Kyle Lohse had a hopping fastNobody expected Clemens to be ball to match the early clamor in rattled not even in the noisy dome his first career postseason start — where the TWins are still 13--4 for the TWins His first of five y : ‘Twins fans: This was it for die Rocket i “You just want to try and be Clemens said “You just don't I' want that to be the case” Knowing this could be the final start of his storied career Clemens made HidekiMatsui’s early home 'run stand up and led the New York Yankees over Minnesota 31 Sat- I urday for a 1 lead in their AL playoff series'j Cruising through seven innings j Clemens quieted the Metrodome crowd of 55915 before letting Mariano Rivera take over for his second straight save j “When you Bee toger Clemens lead on Minnesota 2-- 1 AP photo - in the playoffs and where opponents often struggle with the all-ti- See ROCKET on B5 New York's Hideki Matsui rounds third after hitting a two-ru- n homer against the Minnesota Twins Chicago fans still waiting on a win WDBBQDDIfilfi Nixon's HR helps keep Sox alive BOSTON (AP)— Three ' errors in one inning TWo bizarre plays at the plate in another Two obstruction calls in the game and — perhaps the weirdest thing of all — a perfect performance from the Boston bullpen And then all the wackiness gave way to something quite routine for the Red Sox this season — a game-winnihome run1 CHICAGO (AP) — On the wall of a tavern across the street from Wrigley Field is a beer sign that reads simply “Next Year’s Here” No Chicago Cubs logo No cute little bear holding a baseball bat Still nobody needs to be told what the sign means If Cubs fans didn't invent ' the phrase “Wait ’til next year" they could have They’ve been waiting since 1908 when the Cubs last won the World Series And they’ve been waiting since 1945 just to appear in another World ng ' pinch-hitte-r Sore-legg- ed Trot Nixon homered in the 11th and Boston took advan- tage of Oakland’s bumbling baserunning and fielding to beat the Athletics 3-- 1 Saturday night and avoid elimination in their best-of-fi- AL playoff ve v series “All the home runs you hit in your career in the regular season don’t mean much unless you start hitting some in the postseason” said Nixon who missed the last five games of the regular season with a strained calf muscle “This is ' what you work for” Boston managed just seven hits but forced Game 4 Sunday thanks to four Oakland errors — three in the second inning The A’s also had two runners thrown out at the plate ' in a bizarre sixth that sent the umpires to their rule books and A’s manager Ken Macha intoafury The score remained until the 11th — the second time in three games the teams have needed extra innings But the Red Sox have thrived under pressure winning a league-leadin- g 23 games this season in their last Rich Harden Oakland’s fifth pitcher came on to start the 11th and got Kevin Millar to pop out Doug Mirabelli 1- -1 at-b- at Marlins Continued from B1 ' “It was a very tough play” Rodriguez said on the field fcs teammates celebrated: “In that situation I’m just going to grab that ball in my glove I don’t want to let that ball go out of my glove” He spoke while still clutch- ing the ball The typically dramatic vicd Marlins tory by the ‘advanced them into the NL championship series to face either the Chicago Cubs or Atlanta “This is a start” Rodriguez said “We have a great team and I think we can go all the way” Dontrelle Willis and the Marlins blew a 5--1 advantage before rookie Miguel Cabrera helped them regain the lead in die eighth with an RBI single Rodriguez scored the run jarring the ball loose from catcher Yorvit Torrealba When it scooted away another run scored But the defending NL i champion Giants weren't done They scored once in the ninth against closer Ugueth Urbina and had runners at first and second with two out when 6-- best-of-fi- AP photo Boston pitcher Derek Lowe left erupts from the dugout with fellow teammates after then singled to rightand Nixori batting for Gabe pitch to Kapler hit a field center straightaway “He was waiting for that pitch I guess” Harden said “I give him credit” Raising his fist in the air as he rounded the bases Nixon was met at home plate by his teammates in a celebration reminiscent of the one that d greeted the team’s clincher — the last time they had played at Fenway Boston's bullpen threw four perfect innings three by Mike Timlin before Scott Williamson pitched the 1 1 th for the win “We’ve done a lot of talk--' ing about that bullpen since : opening day this year" Boston manager Grady Little said “Tonight we were awfully proud of what they did” John Burkett pitches Sun- ' day against Tim Hudson A Reid Sox win would send the teams back to Oakland for Game 5 Monday and Pedro Martinez probably would face Barry Zito for a chance to advance to the AL championship series “We really believe that we’re still in this thing” said Derek Lowe who allowed six hits and an unearned run in seven innings It was the seventh consecu- tive time that the A’s have lost Jeffrey Hammonds singled to left A charging Jeff Conine fielded the ball on one bounce and threw to Rodriguez Snow bowled over the catcher nick- the eighth “Pudge won both games by himself If they don't have Pudge Rodriguez they probably don’t have a choice He’s the best catcher in baseball and he made all the plays today” It was a triumph tough to imagine when manager Jack McKeon’s team in the series and 4-trailed 1 in the fifth inning of Game 2 or when Florida was 9 in May But the resilient Marlins will start the NLCS on the road Tuesday “They’re just exciting guys to be around” McKeon said “They’ve got that fire in their eyes They’re never going to quit You’re going to have to 1- -1 ' wild-car- much-malign- ed ’ named “Pudge” but Rodriguez held the ball He rose and was tackled again by a jubilant Urbina as Marlins mobbed each other sea-so- ns with the Texas Rangers in playoff went they all against the New games York Yankees At 3 1 he found a limited market as a free agent last winter and settled $10 million for a one-yecontract with the Marlins The unlikely pairing is now a postseason sensation “This is what I’ve wanted for a long time” Rodriguez said “And there’s nothing better than me’ getting the last 1- -9 ar ' : out” Rodriguez also picked Snow off first base in the sixth ‘ with foe game tied He drove in all four Marlins runs and threw out a runner in their victory Friday “The guy does it all” said Giants relievo’ Felix Rodriguez (no relation) who gave up Florida's two runs in - runs" ’ ' Continued from B1 But winter is still a few weeks away and the Braves showed they had some big hits left Jones ended his postseason slump with a two-ruhomer from each side of the plate and Russ Ortiz pitched well on three days’ rest as the Braves defeated the Cubs 4 n 6-- Saturday With Wrigley Field fans on edge and the streets of Chicago rocking in anticipation of the Cubs winning their first postseason series since 1908 the Braves sent this NL play- off back to Atlanta for a decisive Game 5 Sammy Sosa made them sweat it out right down to the final swing though With a run already in and a runner on second Sosa came up with two outs for a tense matchup against star closer John Smoltz On a pitch Sosa took a hopeful hop as his bid for a tying two-ru-n homer left the baL “When he made contact my heart jumped into my throat” Jones said “Wouldn’t the roof come off this place if n Sammy were to hit a homer off Smoltzie in that sit 1 foil-cou- ' nt two-ru- the New York Yankees in 2001 — a skid that with Jeremy Giambi's mistake on the bases: “We played a poor second inning” Macha said “I think we gave them seven outs in the second inning It’s amazing they only got one run” Returning to the site of their over-the-tcelebration of the wild-car- d clincher the Red Sox brought a festive mood despite a 2-- 0 deficit Several players — including Nixon — got crew cuts as' a symbol of team unity Back-up- s taped cheers to the back of their jackets to prompt the fans behind the dugout to heckle Oakland starter Ted Lilly : op Braves 19-2- beat us” With foe victory the Marlins saved themselves a long trip to San Francisco for a decisive Game 5 Sunday They've won all four postseason series in franchise history including the 1997 World Series The NL West champion Giants foe first team to clinch a division title this year were the first to be eliminated “I’m proud of my guys” manager Felipe Alou said “They didn't give up when they were trailing by four home run by Trot Nixon World Series The A’s had won 10 consecutive playoff games against the Red Sox also sweeping them in 1988 The Red Sox have not won the World Series since 191 8 but their recent history bodes a little better: They rallied from an 0-- 2 deficit to beat Cleveland in the first round of the 1999 playoffs Oakland was the last team ta blow a 2-- 0 lead in the first round losing three straight to 1- the scene accompanied by foe roar of 65464 fans a record for a division series game During Rodriguez's 12 ’ a two-ru- n a playoff game in which they had a chance to advance Despite making the playoffs in four straight years Oakland has not won a postseason series since sweeping Boston in 1990 to make it to the : - : wild-car- go-ahe- ad Series With a chance to win a postseason series for the first time in 95 years Chicago lost to Atlanta 4 Saturday and headed back to Atlanta for Sunday night’s decisive fifth NL game in the playoff Even Saturday’s loss couldn’t change the attitude of fans who crowded the streets out- side Wrigley during the game many of them chanting : uation?” But center fielder Andrew Jones calmly caught the ball on the edge of the warning track for the last out “The swing I had was good but it wasn’t quite a full swing” Sosa said “But I thought I had it for a second” Smoltz who appeared to be grimacing in pain during the bent over and put his hands on his knees after holding on for a save Eric Karros hit two homers for the Cubs but both were solo shots at-b- at So the series now goes back to Atlanta on Sunday night Mike Hampton will try to duplicate Ortiz’s effort facing Kerry Wopd on three days’ rest The winner will host Florida in the ope tier of the NLCS on i Tuesday “All year long we’ve put ourselves in a comer many different times and we've been able to respond” Karros said “We’re looking forward to doing that tomorrow” The Braves led the NL in batting average (284) homers 235) and (a franchise-recor- d runs (907 another club mark) this year But those big bats were nowhere to be found once the postseason began Atlanta hit just 191 in the first three games of the series ve “Tomorrow Night" and “Let’s go Wood” Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood gets the start in Sunday's game in Atlanta “They actually have a shot to break the curse" said Cary Templin 29 of Chicago: “Before everyone knew they were going to get killed But this time they have got great pitching” John Duffy a lawyer from suburban River Forest wasn’t sure whether the team’s turnaround had anything to do with manager Dusty Baker’s sprinkling of ' mystery powder on the field a few weeks back or the way the See FANS on B5 e and had only three hits The struggles of the Jone- -' ses and Sheffield were the most glaring with the hitters combining for three hits extra-bas- -5 through the first three games But with Sheffield on the bench — he was hit in the left hand by Mark Prior’s pitch Friday night —Atlanta manager Bobby Cox moved Chipper Jones back up to his old No 3 spot and he responded “That’s where I feel most comfortable” Chipper Jones said “I’ve never seen myself as a No 4 hitter but that makes our team better Any chance I hit in the three hole all those guys cherish moving up one spot in the lineup and want to make the most of it” in the Batting fifth inning he sent Matt Clement's pitch arching toward for a 1 lead The crowd of 39983 knew the ball was gone even before it landed in foe seats falling so silent a goat could have been heard bleating He wasn’t done either Batin foe eighth ting Mark Guthrie inning against he put a 2 pitch into almost the same spot in “It's actually a matter of time before they all break out like that” Cox said left-hand- ed 1- -0 left-cent- er 3-- right-hand- ed 3-- left-cent- er |