Associated Press

New York Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter catches a foul ball hit by Oakland Athletics' Terrence Long in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series in New York, yesterday.

Tuesday October 16, 2001

NEW YORK - With no margin for error, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees' pinstriped dynasty persevered with one of the great comebacks in baseball history.

As Jeter solidified his place in Yankees' lore, the three-time defending World Series champions became the first team ever to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.

New York fell behind early as Roger Clemens stumbled, then seized on Oakland's youthful nerves to beat the Athletics 5-3 in the deciding Game 5 last night and advance to the AL championship series.

Alfonso Soriano started the comeback with a two-run single, New York created two runs from three errors and David Justice capped the comeback with a pinch-hit home run into the right-field seats - his first RBI in 62 at-bats since Sept. 5.

Then came Jeter, whose amazing backhand flip to the plate following an overthrow preserved the Yankees' 1-0 win in Game 3 - and turned the series.

After getting two hits to break Pete Rose's postseason record with 87, Jeter showed the heart and skill of a champion.

With a runner on first in the eighth, he dived headlong into the photographer's box behind third base to catch Terrence Long's foul pop. The runner advanced, but was stranded, and after the inning Jeter bandaged his elbow cut.

With the delirious Bronx crowd chanting at fever pitch, Mariano Rivera closed it out, capping 4 and 2/3 innings of shutout, two-hit relief started by winner Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza.

New York, trying to become only the third team to win the World Series four straight times, opens the AL Championship Series tomorrow in Seattle.

''If you lose playing well, you tip your hat,'' Oakland manager Art Howe said. ''Tonight we contributed quite a bit to our demise.''

Clemens fell behind 2-0 in the first two innings. The Giambi brothers hit RBI singles that put Oakland ahead, with Jason - who went 4-for-4 - connecting in the first after Johnny Damon's leadoff double and Jeremy in the second following Long's double.

But then the Yankees' resolve, the refusal not to give in that has led them to four World Series titles in five years under manager Joe Torre, kicked in while the A's buckled.

Soriano, one of the rookies added this year to an ever-changing roster, started it with a two-run single in the second off Mark Mulder, who had shut down the Yankees in the opener.

Soriano's hit came after Scott Brosius, in a horrible slump, loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch on the foot.

Then the A's, the team seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough season, turned from brash to bumbling, an attitude that seemed so solid in winning twice at Yankee Stadium last week went from juiced to jittery.

An innocent strikeout by Bernie Williams started the collapse in the third. The ball skipped away from catcher Greg Myers, who got it in plenty of time to throw to first for the out, but his throw bounced under the glove of Jason Giambi at first and into right field as Williams reached.

Tino Martinez was hit on a hip by a pitch and Shane Spencer loaded the bases with a two-out walk. Brosius then hit a grounder to third and Eric Chavez, appearing distracted as Martinez crossed in front of him, let the ball pop out of his glove as Williams scored the go-ahead run.

Jason Giambi hurt the A's again in the fourth after Chuck Knoblauch led off with a single. Mulder picked Knoblauch off first, with Giambi having plenty of time to make the play, but his throw to second was wide and low.

Randy Velarde bunted Knoblauch over and Jeter hit a sacrifice fly on the next pitch to make it 4-2.

Oakland had plenty of chances, going 3-for-8 with runners' in scoring position, a change from its 1-for-35 in the first four games.

The best example of the struggles by the A's, who also lost the first round to the Yankees 3-2 last year, came in the fifth.

Jason Giambi hit an RBI single off Mike Stanton, who had just replaced Clemens, but Miguel Tejada failed to go from first to third on the play. It became costly when Chavez flied to right, a ball Tejada could have scored on.

Giambi and Tejada had an animated discussion after the inning, with the MVP first baseman jabbing his finger at his teammate. About an inning later, they had a talk in the dugout and appeared to make up.

Mulder wasn't as sharp as he was in the opener. Although he broke a pair of bats in the first inning, his pitches didn't have the bite and he didn't get ahead in the count as often.

Clemens, pitching with an injured hamstring, had troubles with most of his pitches but kept his team in the game. New York was the 11th team in a best-of-five series to lose the first two at home, but played as if pressure was nonexistent.

At first it, looked like the Yankees might still be in their offensive funk. With runners at the corners in the first and one out, Williams hit into a double play off Mulder, who led the AL with 26 ground double plays induced.

Williams hit himself in the chest twice in frustration, angry he swung at the first pitch.

Oakland, meanwhile, put a jersey in its dugout of Jermaine Dye, the cleanup hitter who broke his left leg on a foul ball Sunday.

But in New York, the icons are in Monument Park, honoring the pinstripes. Once again, the youthful A's couldn't overcome that.

Mariners bounce back behind Moyer

SEATTLE - Shut out at home. Blown out on the road. Down to their final nine outs. Twice in danger of having their record-setting, season of seasons end in failure.

The Seattle Mariners endured it all during five pressure-packed games against the Cleveland Indians.

And as they did all year, the Mariners came out winners.

Jamie Moyer tamed Cleveland's bats for six innings, Ichiro Suzuki got three more hits and Mark McLemore drove in two runs Monday as the Mariners advanced to the ALCS with a 3-1 win over the Indians in the deciding Game 5 of the playoffs.

Back home where their magic multiplies, baseball's best team during the regular season guaranteed it would be around for some more postseason fun.

The Mariners faced elimination twice and twice refused to let this season of seasons end.

''We were down 1-0, and we had to win Game 2,'' reliever Jeff Nelson said. ''We had to win Game 4, and we had to win today. It shows what kind of players we have and what kind of team we are. We tied history, but it wouldn't have looked very good if we got knocked out in the first round.''

After nearly seeing their record-tying 116 wins in the regular season overshadowed by an early October exit, the Mariners returned to the safety and screaming fans in Safeco Field and did what they've done all season.

They got solid starting pitching, clutch base hits, solid relief work and defense and improved to 119-48 since opening day.

''It's a good formula,'' Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. ''This is fun. There's no pressure.''

There was no wild celebration after third baseman David Bell threw out Juan Gonzalez at first for the final out. The Mariners know they still have a lot of work ahead.

As 47,867 stood and cheered, the players exchanged hugs and high-fives near second base before heading to a clubhouse celebration.

And now, the Mariners advance to their third ALCS - they also appeared in '95 and '00 - but for the first time, they'll have home-field advantage when they get there.

''We've been in this situation before,'' Edgar Martinez said. ''We've been behind. We've bounced back and won. It's amazing the way this team is able to bounce back.''

Seattle will play host to the best-of-seven series beginning Wednesday against either the Oakland Athletics or New York Yankees, who played their own Game 5 Monday night.

Suzuki, the speedy Japanese sensation whose legion of fans grows with every infield single, gave Cleveland headaches all series long. He went 12-for-20 (.600), scored four runs and set the table for nearly every Mariners' rally.

''That guys flies,'' said Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel. ''If he hits the ball two steps to your right or left, it's almost a sure base hit.''

The Indians managed just four hits and will have the winter to think about what might have been.

Cleveland was in command of the series following a 17-2 blowout in Game 3, but the Indians couldn't put away the Mariners, who after running away from the AL all year, showed they're not bad at comebacks, either.

''It showed what we're made of,'' Moyer said. ''The last two games have been win or go home.''

It could be a while before the Indians are back in the postseason. The AL Central champs are expected to slash payroll during the offseason, and Monday's game could be the last for center fielder Kenny Lofton, pitcher Dave Burba and Gonzalez.

GM John Hart, who built the Indians into a winner, is also stepping down and there's speculation that manager Charlie Manuel may not have his contract renewed.

''This hurts,'' said rookie pitcher C.C. Sabathia, who won 17 games during the regular season and got the victory in Game 3. ''I feel like it's all for nothing. My team didn't win and that's tough to take.''

Moyer beat the Indians for the second time in the series and fourth time this season, allowing one run and three hits in six innings.

The 38-year-old, pitching on three days' rest, walked one, struck out seven and got just enough help from plate umpire Mark Hirschbeck's low strike zone to make it tough on the Indians.

It's not like Cleveland could hit Moyer's off-speed stuff, anyway.

The Indians' 3-through-6 hitters - Roberto Alomar, Gonzalez, Ellis Burks and Jim Thome - went a combined 0-for-14 with six strikeouts.

''We just couldn't get to that changeup,'' Vizquel said. ''He just paints the corners.''

Relievers Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes got the Mariners to the ninth and Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched a perfect final inning for his first save of the series.

Indians starter Chuck Finley, too, had his problems with Hirschbeck's strike zone, allowing two runs and three hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Leading 2-1, the Mariners loaded the bases and chased Finley in the fifth on singles by McLemore and Suzuki and a walk to Stan Javier. But rookie David Riske came in and struck out Bret Boone and got Martinez to ground into a force play.

Seattle missed another chance to extend its lead in the sixth.

But the Mariners made it 3-1 in the seventh on Martinez's RBI single off Danys Baez.

The Indians got within 2-1 in the third on Kenny Lofton's RBI single, and things looked promising with Alomar batting with the bases loaded and one out.

But Alomar, who hit into a double play to end the first, swung at Moyer's first pitch and bounced into a 5-4-3 double play. Alomar, a switch-hitter, grounded into nine double plays this season - none from the right side, as he did against Moyer.

Finley, who fell behind 4-0 after 14 pitches in Game 2, was in trouble this time in the second, loading the bases with walks to Martinez and Olerud before hitting Mike Cameron.

Finley got two strikeouts, but McLemore, who batted .164 right-handed this season, dropped a two-run single in front of diving left fielder Marty Cordova.

''Before this series, 116 wins meant nothing,'' McLemore said. ''Now it still means nothing. We still have to go out and win.''