ALDS Game 2: Oct 7, 1999 (L: 3-1)
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My Commentary

Well, it's now third down and long.  If we don't get some yards soon, we'll be forced to punt again to the Yankees.  Oh wait, wrong sport.  However, the analogy probably isn't that far from the truth.  :)

Even though we lost, this was a very well played baseball game.  The entire game (except maybe the top of the 9th) seemed like a big deal at every moment.  It's great baseball, even if we lost.   The curse continues.

I'm really hoping we win at least one, before getting knocked out.  My original prediction was the Yanks in 5, but I figured we'd split in NY, split here, and lose game 5 up in the Bronx.  We may not make it back to the Bronx.   I'm going to the game Saturday night, and I'm also hearing it's supposed to rain.  Oh god, does that bring up bad memories of last year's playoff game here.

Rick Helling looked good, and surprisingly, didn't give up any home runs at all.  I expected him to give up a few of them in Yankee Stadium.  This start was rather indicitave of his entire 99 season.  No run support.  He pitches an awesome game, but loses the game, because we didn't score any runs for him.  As frustrating as that is to us the fans, it must be worse for him.   I feel that Helling should have gotten 20 wins again this season, if only he had run support.  Rick was perfect the first time through the lineup, and also a batter or two into the 4th.  Was a great start.  Too bad it didn't finish that way.

Andy Pettite always seemed on the verge of giving up a bunch of runs, but never did.  He saved himself on several occasions from being pulled.  It's annoying, we were "this close" to busting it open in my eyes, and we didn't.   

Juan Gonzalez got our 1 run for the off-season, we'll probably get shut out on Saturday again.  Going back into the regular season, we now have a 5 game losing streak.  I really don't want our season to end on a 6 game losing streak.  Especially to Roger Clemens.  :(

One funny moment.  In the first inning when Chuck Knoblauch was up to bat, Don Zimmer put on a pith helmet that had the Yankees logo on it.  It was damn funny, and I wish I have a picture of that; I don't.   Zim sounds like a really fun guy to be around.

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

BRONX, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- The New York Yankees got one more big hit than the Texas Rangers, who cannot seem to manage any.

Andy Pettitte combined with two relievers on a seven-hitter as the Yankees continued to baffle the Rangers, winning 3-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five American League Division Series.

Rookie Ricky Ledee snapped a tie with an RBI double in the seventh inning, helping the defending World Series winners move within one victory of the AL Championship Series.

Game Three is Saturday in Texas.

The AL West champs are 1-8 all-time in the postseason, losing eight straight Division Series games -- a record skid in the round -- to the Yankees in 1996, 1998 and this year.

"It's like the guy that threw out the first pitch last night says, `It's like deja vu all over again,' same score, same outcome," Rangers starter Rick Helling said, referring to Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

The Rangers, who led the league with a .293 batting average and finished second with 230 homers, have scored only two runs and are batting .144 (22-for-153) in the last 51 postseason innings against New York.

"I think there's a certain level of frustration, but I think we know we can play with these guys," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said.

"Maybe we go home and things can change," added Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez. "We have to do the little things that got us here. We can hit, but I don't know what happened. This is not the Texas Rangers. You can ask them how they feel about us. They will tell you, we are one of the best teams."

Texas failed to build on a 1-0 lead in the fifth against Pettitte, despite putting runners at second and third with none out.

"The fifth was the game," Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton said. "We had him on the ropes and the momentum swung to their side when he got out of that jam."

The Yankees left six runners in scoring position but held on after Ledee stroked a double to the gap in right-center field off Helling (0-1).

Mike Venafro issued a bases-loaded walk to Jim Leyritz with two outs in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Pettitte (1-0) left to a standing ovation after giving up one run and seven hits over 7 1/3 innings. He improved to 7-3 in the postseason and 46-21 lifetime at Yankee Stadium.

"I just feel like I'm able to get focused," Pettitte said. "I was able to get locked in tonight."

Jeff Nelson got the final two outs in the eighth and Mariano Rivera struck out two in a flawless ninth for the save.

"They scored one run and we wanted to keep it that way," Nelson said.

Helling gave up only two runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out eight, but dropped to 0-2 lifetime in the playoffs, losing to Pettitte both times.

"Helling was pitching a great game," Pettitte said. "I didn't know if we'd get to him. And I didn't think he'd give up many runs. He was just painting the corner on the lefthanded hitters. You have to give him a lot of credit, too."

Helling struck out eight of the first 16 batters he faced.

The Rangers snapped a 25 1/3-inning postseason scoreless streak against New York on Juan Gonzalez's solo homer in the fourth. He tied Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neill of the Yankees for the AL Division Series record.

Pettitte kept it at 1-0 with a brilliant effort in the fifth. With runners on second and third, he fell behind Mark McLemore 3-0 before striking him out, then threw two balls to Clayton before inducing a groundout. Rusty Greer struck out to end the threat.

"That was the key to the game, the way Helling was pitching," Yankees catcher Joe Girardi said. "We are real passionate about our game this time of year. Second and third, 3-0 to McLemore, you say to yourself, `If you give up one run here you are in good shape.' You don't want to give up two, but (Pettitte) was incredible and it gave us a big lift."

Maligned throughout the season and nearly traded at the deadline, Pettitte is 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA in his last two postseason starts, clinching last year's World Series sweep of San Diego. He is 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two playoff starts against Texas.

"I really put emphasis on games in October and he has not backed off on any of them," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "In fact, that Game Four last year (against San Diego), Game Five (in the 1996 World Series against Atlanta) and Game Two last year against Texas, he's been great."

The Yankees caught a break in the fifth. After former Yankee Roberto Kelly led off with a single, Lee Stevens bounced a ground-rule double over the wall in left field that likely would have scored a run.

"I made a bad pitch to get in that situation to Stevens. And I was a little frustrated," Pettitte said. "At that point, I was just trying to concede a run and trying to get an out there."

New York tied it in the fifth. Tino Martinez led off with a single and scored on Scott Brosius' two-out RBI double that eluded a leaping Greer and caromed off the left-field wall.

Martinez also sparked the seventh with a one-out walk, then raced to third on a hit-and-run single to right field by Chili Davis. Ledee followed with a high fly ball that fell between Kelly and Gonzalez in right-center.

"I knew it would drop the way they were playing me," Ledee said. "They may have been doing that because of that foul ball I hit and because other guys were not pulling him."

The Yankees could have added some insurance but Tim Crabtree replaced Helling and got Brosius and Girardi to ground out, stranding runners at second and third. 

Recap #2

NEW YORK (AP) -- At this point, it doesn't seem to matter which pitcher the New York Yankees put on the mound against Texas.

The Rangers can't hit any of them.

Andy Pettitte, once again proving he's at his best in the biggest games, took his turn at shutting down Texas in a 3-1 victory Thursday night that gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.

Juan Gonzalez homered in the fourth, ending the Rangers' postseason scoreless streak at 25 innings. But that was all they managed in 7 1/3 innings against Pettitte, the left-hander New York nearly dealt away at the July 31 trading deadline.

"It seems like every year I struggle and they talk about trading me and then somebody stands up for me, like Joe," Pettitte said. "I had a tough year, a lot of people doubting me."

But manager Joe Torre never was one of them.

"I've seen Andy do it before. When you need to count on him, he doesn't disappoint," Torre said. "He makes big plays, he makes big pitches."

The Yankees won their ninth straight postseason game and sent Texas to its eighth playoff loss in a row. Ricky Ledee's tiebreaking double in the seventh off loser Rick Helling and a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Jim Leyritz in the eighth put the Yankees one win away from their second consecutive 3-0 sweep of Texas in the opening round of the playoffs. Texas manager Johnny Oates shook up his lineup, moving Royce Clayton into the leadoff spot for only the third time this year. It did not do much.

The Rangers have just two runs in their last 51 postseason innings, and now the World Series champions will try to finish it Saturday night at Texas when Roger Clemens pitches against Esteban Loaiza.

"We know in our heart we can play with these guys," Oates said. "But until we start doing it, there's always going to be doubts."

No surprise, it was Pettitte who put the Yankees in position to advance to the next round. A demonstrative Pettitte, too, who pumped his fist and shouted after a big strikeout in the fifth.

"I'm usually not very emotional, but it was a big game," Pettitte said. "I was locked in." 

Pettitte almost missed out on this party when the Yankees came close to trading him to Philadelphia more than two months ago. At the time, Pettitte was struggling at 7-8 and seemed distracted, possibly by his father's heart problems back in Texas.

But Torre, with help from general manager Brian Cashman, convinced owner George Steinbrenner not to make the deal. Steinbrenner agreed, and challenged Pettitte to "show what kind of man he is."

Ever since, Pettitte backed up Torre's confidence. And against Texas, he looked every bit as focused as the pitcher who won the clinching Game 4 of last year's World Series and the crucial Game 5 of the 1996 Series against Atlanta.

"This is what I remember about Andy," Torre said. "I remember him walking that tightrope in '96."

Pettitte gave up one run and seven hits, walking none and striking out five. Last year, he also beat Helling 3-1 in Game 2.

Every Yankees infielder rushed to the mound to offer pats of congratulations to Pettitte when Torre brought in reliever Jeff Nelson in the eighth. Pettitte received a standing ovation from the crowd of 57,485 -- a stark contrast to the rude treatment the fans gave him earlier this year -- and he responded with an enthusiastic wave of the cap.

"He understands the magnitude of these games," Yankees catcher Joe Girardi said.

Nelson struck out Ivan Rodriguez and Gonzalez, and Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for a save.

Scott Brosius, MVP of the 1998 World Series, hit a tying double in the fifth for his first hit of this postseason.

New York took a 2-1 lead in the seventh after Tino Martinez led off with a walk and took third on Chili Davis' single.

Ledee, a World Series hero last year but sent to the minors early this season, delivered a fly-ball double to right-center for a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Roberto Kelly seemed to have a chance at catching it, but appeared to back off a bit when Gonzalez came over from right.

Leyritz drew his bases-loaded walk in the eighth from Mike Venafro.

After being blanked 8-0 in Game 1, the Rangers rewarded Gonzalez with exuberant high-fives after he reprised his role as a Yankees-killer with a line-drive homer into the left-field stands in the fourth.

Gonzalez put on an incredible power show in the 1996 playoff series against New York with five home runs, including two against Pettitte.

Pettitte had escaped a first-and-second, no-outs jam in the second, then kept the Rangers from adding to a 1-0 lead in a tense fifth.

Kelly led off with a single and took third on Lee Stevens' double. Mark McLemore struck out and Clayton, after taking a minute because he had trouble shaking the weighted doughnut off his bat, grounded out to a slightly drawn-in Brosius at third. Rusty Greer ran the count full before striking out on a breaking ball in the dirt, prompting Pettitte's exaggerated reaction.

"We certainly had our opportunities," Oates said, "but Andy kept making pitches where he wanted to when he had to.

GAME NOTES: Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer, cut in the ear and left jaw by Chuck Knoblauch's foul ball in Game 1, wore a gag gift in the first inning when Knoblauch batted -- a military helmet with a Yankees logo. Zimmer had a bandage over his wounds. ... Clemens is 1-2 with a 3.88 ERA in nine career starts in the postseason. Loaiza will be making his first playoff appearance. ... Pettitte is 5-4 in the postseason. ... Former Yankees star Don Mattingly threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Photos
(Click on the ones with an outline for a larger image)

Zim at a press conference showing the bandage from the hit he took on Tuesday	A really nice picture (I think) of Joe Torre.	Rick Helling surveys Yankee Stadium	Roger Clemens & Andy Pettite at warmups on Wednesday	...more goofing off.  :)

Esteban Loaiza during team warmpus	Don Zimmer before the game	Don Mattingly throws out the first pitch	Johnny Oates arguing fan interference during the 1st	Texas starter Rick Helling

Texas starter Rick Helling	Texas starter Rick Helling	Texas starter Rick Helling	NY starter Andy Pettite	NY starter Andy Pettite

NY starter Andy Pettite	Derek Jeter strikes out in the 1st	Mr. Twinkie gets the force on Todd Zeile	Mr. Twinkie gets the force on Todd Zeile	Derek Jeter slides into third...

... and is tagged out	Juan watches his home run ball sail out...	... as does Yankee left fielder Ricky Ledee	Juan trots around while Andy Pettite looks away	Juan getting some congrats

Rusty misplays a ball in left field	Derek Jeter turns a double play	Rusty Greer strikes out to end the 5th	Pudge goes into the stands after a foul ball...	... and gets it!

Johnny takes Rick Helling out of the game	Johnny takes Rick Helling out of the game	Tino Martinez scores...	... and gets some congrats	Andy Pettite showing some excitement after getting the last out of the 7th

Andy Pettite when coming out of the game in the 8th	Andy Pettite when coming out of the game in the 8th	Andy Pettite when coming out of the game in the 8th	The Texas dugout in the 9th	NY closer Mariano Rivera & Ricky Ledee celebrate the win

Mr. Twinkie & Joe Girardi celebrate the win

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL PLAYOFFS
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
TEXAS               0  0  0   1  0  0   0  0  0     1  7  0
NY YANKEES          0  0  0   0  1  0   1  1  x     3  7  2   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, TIM CRABTREE (7TH), MIKE VENAFRO
                  (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
            NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, JEFF NELSON (8TH), MARIANO
                  RIVERA (9TH) AND JOE GIRARDI

             WP - ANDY PETTITTE (1-0)
             LP - RICK HELLING (0-1)
           SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (1)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (1) OFF PETTITTE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
            NYY - NONE

     TIME:  3:32     ATT:  57,485

PROBABLES:  NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (NR)
            TEX - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (NR)

Box Score
TEXAS (1) AT NY YANKEES (3) PLAYOFFS - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Clayton ss              4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .000
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  1   2  .000
I Rodriguez c           4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .375
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  1   0  1   2  .143
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  2  0   0  1   0  .286
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .143
R Kelly cf              3  0  1  0   0  2   2  .333
 T Goodwin cf           1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .000
L Stevens 1b            3  0  1  0   0  0   2  .167
Mclemore 2b             3  0  0  0   0  2   2  .000

Totals                 34  1  7  1   0  9  14

BATTING: 2B - L Stevens (1, Pettitte). HR - J Gonzalez (1, 4th inning
off Pettitte 0 on, 1 out). RBI - J Gonzalez (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - Greer 2. GIDP - L Stevens, J Gonzalez.
Team LOB - 6.

NY YANKEES             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Knoblauch 2b            4  0  0  0   0  1   0  .250
Jeter ss                4  0  2  0   0  1   0  .429
Oneill rf               4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .250
 Curtis pr-lf           0  1  0  0   0  0   0  .000
B Williams cf           3  0  0  0   0  2   1  .375
T Martinez 1b           3  2  1  0   1  0   3  .286
C Davis dh              3  0  1  0   0  2   1  .333
 Bellinger pr-dh        0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 a-Leyritz ph           0  0  0  1   1  0   0  .000
Ledee lf-rf             4  0  1  1   0  2   4  .286
Brosius 3b              3  0  1  1   0  0   2  .167
Girardi c               3  0  0  0   0  0   3  .000

Totals                 31  3  7  3   2  8  14

a-walked for Bellinger in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Jeter (1, Helling); Brosius (1, Helling); Ledee
(2, Helling). RBI - Brosius (1), Ledee (2), Leyritz (1). 2-out RBI -
Brosius, Leyritz. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
Girardi 3, Ledee 2. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - T Martinez (1, ground ball); Knoblauch (1, bobble).
DP: 2 (Jeter-Knoblauch-T Martinez, Knoblauch-Jeter-T Martinez).

--------------------------------------------------
    Texas          - 000 100 000  --  1
    Ny Yankees     - 000 010 11X  --  3

--------------------------------------------------

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (L, 0-1)              6 1/3   5   2   2   1   8   0   2.84
Crabtree                      1       1   1   1   0   0   0   5.40
Venafro                         2/3   1   0   0   1   0   0   0.00

NY YANKEES                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Pettitte (W, 1-0)             7 1/3   7   1   1   0   5   1   1.23
Nelson (H, 1)                   2/3   0   0   0   0   2   0   0.00
M Rivera (S, 1)               1       0   0   0   0   2   0   0.00

HBP - B Williams (by Venafro).  Pitches-strikes: Pettitte
118-73; Nelson 16-11; M Rivera 9-8; Helling 124-73; Crabtree
18-12; Venafro 10-4.  Ground balls-fly balls: Pettitte 11-6;
Nelson 0-0; M Rivera 0-1; Helling 2-9; Crabtree 3-0; Venafro
2-0.  Batters faced: Pettitte 29; Nelson 2; M Rivera 3; Helling 25;
Crabtree 4; Venafro 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Mckean.
3B--John Shulock. LF--Durwood Merrill. RF--Jim Joyce.
T--3:32.  Att--57,485.   Weather: 48 degrees, clear.   Wind: 2 mph,
left to right.

Game Log

Texas Starting Lineups -- Royce Clayton SS, Rusty Greer LF, Ivan Rodriguez C, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Roberto Kelly CF, Lee Stevens 1B, Mark Mclemore 2B, Rick Helling RHP.

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- Chuck Knoblauch 2B, Derek Jeter SS, Paul Oneill RF, Bernie Williams CF, Tino Martinez 1B, Chili Davis DH, Ricky Ledee LF, Scott Brosius 3B, Joe Girardi C, Andy Pettitte LHP.

Umpires -- C Meriwether (HP), T Welke (1B), Mckean (2B), Shulock (3B), D Merrill (LF), Joyce (RF).

Gametime Weather: 48 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 2 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Clayton flied out to left center. Greer grounded out to shortstop. I Rodriguez safe at first on 1st baseman T Martinez's fielding error. J Gonzalez lined out to right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: Knoblauch flied out to right. Jeter struck out looking. Oneill flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro singled to left center. Zeile singled to center, R Palmeiro to second. R Kelly struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Zeile out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: B Williams struck out looking. T Martinez flied out to left. C Davis struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore struck out swinging. Clayton grounded out to second. Greer flied out to deep left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: Ledee struck out swinging. Brosius flied out to center. Girardi flied out to deep left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to first. J Gonzalez homered to left. R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: Knoblauch struck out looking. Jeter doubled to right center. Oneill grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Jeter out at third. B Williams struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 5TH: R Kelly singled to center. L Stevens doubled to deep left, R Kelly to third. Mclemore struck out swinging. Clayton grounded out to third. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 5TH: T Martinez singled to right. C Davis struck out looking. Ledee struck out looking. Brosius doubled to deep left, T Martinez scored. Girardi popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 6TH: I Rodriguez singled to left center. J Gonzalez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, I Rodriguez out at second. R Palmeiro singled to center. Zeile grounded into fielder's choice to second, R Palmeiro out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 6TH: Knoblauch fouled out to catcher. Jeter grounded out to shortstop. Oneill flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 7TH: R Kelly struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded out to second. Mclemore safe at first on 2nd baseman Knoblauch's fielding error. Clayton flied out to right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 7TH: B Williams flied out to deep right. T Martinez walked. C Davis singled to right, T Martinez to third. Bellinger ran for C Davis. Ledee doubled to right center, T Martinez scored, Bellinger to third. Tim Crabtree relieved Rick Helling. Brosius grounded out to third. Girardi grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 2.

TEXAS 8TH: Greer flied out to center. Jeff Nelson relieved Andy Pettitte. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 8TH: T Goodwin in center. Knoblauch grounded out to pitcher. Jeter singled to right. Mike Venafro relieved Tim Crabtree. Oneill singled to left, Jeter to second. Curtis ran for Oneill. B Williams hit by pitch, Jeter to third, Curtis to second. T Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to first, Curtis to third, B Williams to second, Jeter out at home. Leyritz hit for Bellinger. Leyritz walked, Curtis scored, B Williams to third, T Martinez to second. Ledee grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 3.

TEXAS 9TH: Mariano Rivera relieved Jeff Nelson. Curtis in left. Ledee in right. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zeile flied out to right. T Goodwin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 3.