PHOENIX -- Tony Womack?

Him?

The leadoff hitter with the distinct inability to get on base?

	Tony Womack's two-run single in the second inning pushed Arizona's lead to 3-0.

The one left-handed hitter that Bob Brenly didn't bench against Andy Pettitte?

He got the big hit, the one Pettitte called the "monster?"

Yes. Tony Womack. Hitting a weak .143 through the first five games of the World Series. Hadn't driven in a run in the postseason since his series-winning hit against St. Louis 11 games previously. Finished the regular season with a .307 on-base percentage, which usually earns you a spot on the bench, not hitting first for a team in the World Series.

All series long the Diamondbacks had failed to hit with runners in scoring position. Remember the eighth inning of Game 5? Womack had singled to lead off the inning, swiped second base and advanced to third when the throw from Yankees catcher Jorge Posada bounced into center field. He was left stranded and a game that should have been 3-0 remained 2-0. And you know what happened after that.

So there was Womack up with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second inning. Sure, the Diamondbacks were up 1-0, but they had put runners on second and third with no outs. Pettitte was about to escape the jam. And, sure, Randy Johnson was pitching, but this is the Yankees. If Pettitte sneaks out of this ... well, that's how the Yankees win these things.

Womack hit .188 against lefties this year. Pettitte held lefties to a .251 average. In Game 2 against Pettitte, Womack grounded out to the mound, struck out swinging and bounced weakly to third base. Arizona manager Bob Brenly had benched left-handers Steve Finley, Mark Grace and Craig Counsell, but he left Womack -- his shortstop -- in the game. Left him hitting leadoff.

Womack took a fastball outside for ball one. A cut fastball was low. Another fastball sailed outside. Womack took two fastballs for strikes, one on the outside corner, the second right down the middle. This is a hitter who drew only 21 unintentional walks this year in over 500 plate appearances. He was showing some patience. He fouled off the next pitch. Pettitte called Posada to the mound.

Womack hit the next pitch into center field, a soft liner between Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams. Reggie Sanders scored. Damian Miller scored. Danny Bautista then singled to make it 4-0.

"The second inning was just a monster," Pettitte said. "When Womack got that hit, that was basically the ballgame there, when you've got Randy with a three-run lead."

It wasn't hit hard, not like all the hits that kept coming and coming the next inning. But it was the big one.

"It's frustrating to be able to have a chance to get out of that second inning with Womack up and fell behind in the count to him," Pettitte said. "So I had to throw fastballs -- I can't walk him right there. So I just had to throw fastballs basically right down the middle."

Pettitte may have fell behind in the count, but in reality he should have escaped the inning. After Matt Williams singled and Sanders blasted a double over Bernie Williams' head, Jay Bell grounded out to third baseman Scott Brosius. Miller was intentionally walked to load the bases for Johnson.

He bounced the first pitch to Brosius, who threw home to Posada. The throw forced Posada to stretch for the out and instead of risking a tough throw to first to double up Johnson and end the inning, Posada held the ball. If Brosius makes a strong peg to the plate, the inning is over.

And Tony Womack doesn't even get his chance to play hero.

David Schoenfield is the baseball editor at ESPN.com.