BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees find themselves
in a familiar spot Thursday, when they attempt to even the
American League Division Series in Game Two against the Oakland
Athletics.
New York suffered a 5-3 setback Wednesday, but it was not the
first time the three-time defending champions have dropped a
series opener.
In winning four championships over the previous five seasons,
the Yankees lost Game One in four of 13 series, including two
best-of-five sets.
Last season, the Yankees limped into playoffs by losing 13 of
their final 15 regular season games and dropped Game One against
Oakland in the ALDS and against Seattle in the league
championship series.
In 1996, New York lost the first game against Texas in the ALDS
and the first two games of the World Series against Atlanta.
All four times, the Yankees prevailed.
If there is someone who knows how to pitch in October, it is
lefthander Andy Pettitte (15-10, 3.99 ERA), who seeks his fourth
consecutive victory in the Division Series Thursday.
Pettitte, the only starting pitcher who has been on all four
Yankees' World Series teams since 1996, is 7-4 with a 4.28 ERA
lifetime in the postseason.
"Andy made quite an impression on me in 1996, there is no
question," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Of course, he
stumbled in Game One (of the 1996 World Series), got ripped
pretty good. Then in Game Five, he pitched a 1-0 game. That left
a big impression on me. He did struggle a couple of years later
and there was talk of Andy being traded, but I don't think
(pitching coach) Mel Stottlemyre or myself ever wavered in our
support.
"He's a tough kid. Again, it doesn't guarantee he's going to
win. But I know he has a big heart."
Pettitte combined with Mariano Rivera on a six-hit shutout in
New York's 4-0 victory in Game Two of the 2000 ALDS.
Pettitte was 1-4 in his last eight starts during the regular
season. He left his September 26 start against Tampa Bay after
getting hit with a line drive above his pitching elbow.
Pettitte recovered from the injury Saturday, tossing five
scoreless innings at Tampa Bay.
"I was very inconsistent," Pettitte said. "After pitching four
months into the season, I was nowhere near the finish I wanted
to have. It was just a stretch. It seems like I always have a
stretch during the course of a season I go through."
Pettitte faced Oakland only once this season, on May 16 at
Network Associates Coliseum. He allowed three runs and seven
hits in eight innings in a 4-3 loss. Including last season's
Division Series, Pettitte is 9-3 against the A's.
Oakland manager Art Howe hands the ball to righthander Tim
Hudson (18-9, 3.37).
The 26-year-old righthander is the most established of any
Oakland starter, with 49 career wins, but has been overshadowed
by the success of Mark Mulder and Barry Zito, who wil pitch Game
Three.
"I know what I bring to the table every time I come out and
pitch," Hudson said. "If there's somebody on our staff that can
go out and catch the headlines in front of me, I'm happy. That
means our staff is going out there and giving our team a chance
to win and going out there and shutting people down."
Hudson finished the regular season 2-2 in his final five starts
and was 9-4 after the All-Star break.
In his only playoff start, he lost, 4-2, to the Yankees in Game
Three of last season's Division Series, allowing four runs and
six hits in eight innings.
Hudson made two starts against the Yankees this season with
mixed results. On April 28, he surrendered seven runs and 12
hits over six innings in a 7-6 loss at Yankee Stadium. He did
not record a decision at home on May 15, allowing two runs and
10 hits in a 3-2 victory.
Hudson has never won against the Yankees in four career starts,
including the playoffs.
If the Yankees are going to adavnce to the ALCS for the fourth
straight season, they will have to win at least once in Oakland,
where they were 0-6 this season.