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Yankees vs. A's |
Mariners vs. White Sox |
Braves vs. Cardinals |
Mets vs. Giants
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Monday, October 9
Yanks' pen signs off on Game 5 win
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jeff Nelson put up.
So did Mike Stanton and Mariano Rivera -- and that's why the
Yankees are still playing in the postseason.
|  | | Mariano Rivera is mobbed by his teammates after he closed out the Yankees' 7-5 win over the A's. Rivera saved all three wins in the series. |
It was just over a month ago when George Steinbrenner, tired of
his bullpen's second-half struggles, told Nelson in particular -- and New York's entire bullpen in general -- to "put up or shut
up."
With 5 1/3 outstanding innings Sunday in relief of starter
Andy Pettitte, the Yankees' bullpen proved it's more than capable
of leading New York to playoff success. New York beat Oakland 7-5
in the decisive Game 5.
Four relievers -- including a cameo by Game 3 starter Orlando
Hernandez -- held the Athletics' high-powered offense to three hits
and no runs after Pettitte was chased. Both Stanton and Nelson --
two critical cogs in New York's consecutive World Series
championship teams -- were in top form when it mattered most.
"In a Game 5, there are no roles," Nelson said. "Me and Mike,
we've got to be ready to come out in any inning. You've got to pull
out all the stops in a situation like this."
Pettitte, who pitched masterfully in beating the A's in Game 2,
got through just 3 2/3 innings Sunday while pitching on three days'
rest. The 19-game winner was shaky in every inning, allowing 10
hits and five runs while walking two.
"I felt great. I felt like I was making a lot of good
pitches," Pettitte said. "I was glad to get out of there, because
(the Athletics) wore me out. I thought I was pretty sharp, (but)
the bullpen saved me."
But New York manager Joe Torre was reluctant to go to the 'pen
because of its struggles in the season's second half, particularly
during a two-week stretch in August when the Yankees' late-season
slide began.
In fact, except for three innings late in Oakland's 11-1 victory
in Game 4, Torre had used just six pitchers -- starters Roger
Clemens, Pettitte and Hernandez along with relievers Stanton,
Nelson and Rivera -- in the entire series.
"I don't think the bullpen was ever out of line," Stanton
said. "I don't know where all this talk came from about Joe losing
confidence in us. I don't think Joe has ever lost confidence in
us."
Torre stuck with Pettitte until the fourth inning, when the A's
scored two runs. The call came in for Stanton.
After Stanton pitched out of the jam, he retired the side in
order in the fifth and got two outs in the sixth before being
lifted for Nelson, who struck out Olmedo Saenz to end the inning.
Nelson pitched the seventh before starter Orlando Hernandez, who
threw 130 pitches in his Game 3 start Friday, struck out Ben Grieve
to start the eighth but gave up a double to Matt Stairs.
Enter Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' feared closer who has
struggled at times this year. He struck out Terrence Long and then
forced three easy fly balls and a foul pop by Eric Chavez that
ended it.
The bullpen sent the Yankees to the AL Championship Series
against Seattle with their 21st win in their last 24 postseason
games.
"The bullpen just came through in every situation that we
needed them," Bernie Williams said. "They've been criticized so
much, so it was great to see them do what they did tonight."
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