Open Mic: 2001 World Series

Game 4. Halloween night. The Yankees continued to struggle to stay in the series as Curt Schilling continued to pitch like a man possessed. He had given up a single home run to Shane Spencer, but the Diamondbacks had gotten it back in the next inning with a home run of their own, by Mark Grace off of Orlando Hernandez. After Mike Stanton gave up two runs on a double to Durazo and a fielder's choice to Williams in the 8th inning, the Yankees faced a two run deficit with two shots at keeping the series from going 3-1 in Arizona's favor. Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim came in and struck out the side to end the 8th, and was sent back out to finish the game in the 9th. Jeter came to bat first, bunting into a ground out. Paul O'Neill, playing in his last series at Yankee Stadium, hit a nonthreatening single to left field. After Bernie Williams struck out swinging, the Yankees were one out away from having their backs against the wall. It was Tino Martinez, the man who had come to the team to replace the long loved Don Mattingly so many years ago, who came to bat next and hit the game tying home run, scoring Paul O'Neill and sending the game into extra innings. When the Diamondbacks failed to score in the 10th, Kim was brought out yet again. Now that the clock had already struck midnight, this was the first World Series that had been played in November. After two quick outs to Brosius and Soriano, Derek Jeter became the greatest hitter in the history of November baseball......at that time. His solo home run won the game, drew the Yankees even in the series and gave them momentum going into Game 5.

With the series becoming a best-of-3 contest now, both teams desperately needed to collect a win. Although Mike Mussina struck out 10 batters over the course of eight innings of work, blood was drawn on him first when he gave up solo home runs to Steve Finley and Rod Barajas in the top of the 5th. Miguel Bautista made it through 7 and 2/3 innings untouched, and Greg Swindell cleaned up the 8th inning for him nicely. One inning away from taking a crucial game 5, Kim returned, looking for redemption. Posada doubled to lead the inning off, but the hope that came from having the first runner in scoring position soon faded as Shane Spencer grounded out and Chuck Knoblauch struck out swinging. Scott Brosius, playing in his last game at Yankee Stadium, a third baseman known more for his outstanding defense than his offensive prowess, belted the game tying home run. In the 11th, Rivera allowed two quick hits to Bautista and Durazo. A bunt ground out advanced both runners, and after intentionally walking Steve Finley, the Diamondbacks were in striking distance with bases loaded and one out. Reggie Sanders lined out sharply to Soriano so that nobody could advance, and Mark Grace grounded out to end the threat. Later, in the bottom of the 12th, the game finally came to a close with Chuck Knoblauch scoring from second on an Alfonso Soriano single. So ended the most nerve wracking three games I have ever seen in World Series play.

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