Schilling Pitches on 3-Day Rest
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Yankees barely had time to savor a win before talk turned to Bob Brenly's big gamble.
That would be Curt Schilling, coming back on three days' rest to start Game 4 of the World Series.
``He's the right guy,'' Brenly said.
Schilling looked even better to the Arizona manager after Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera combined for a 2-1 win Tuesday night, cutting the Diamondbacks' lead to two games to one.
While the Yankees showed they could pitch, they now must prove they can hit - against Schilling, who overwhelmed them in Game 1.
``It doesn't surprise me. We'll be there,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
The Yankees' victory also ensured something new: Baseball will have a Mr. November, with Game 5 scheduled for Thursday.
Pumped and psyched, Clemens put on quite a performance for President Bush, who threw his own strike with the ceremonial first pitch.
The Rocket allowed only three hits and struck out nine. Rivera threw two perfect innings in relief, and that was it.
``I knew it was a game that we had to have,'' Clemens said. ``It was exciting to be part of everything. It was something I'll always have with me.''
The Yankees, who hit only .102 in losing to Schilling and Randy Johnson at Bank One Ballpark, are still struggling at the plate with a .144 average.
``We're capable of hitting,'' Torre said. ``We just haven't done it.''
There was a chance Miguel Batista would start Wednesday night, but Schilling and even the Yankees knew those plans were scrapped when he began warming up in the Arizona bullpen in the seventh inning.
``He said all along he's prepared to pitch,'' Brenly said, referring to Schilling. ``He didn't do cartwheels or anything like that and he didn't look at me like I was crazy.''
Asked about his history of pitching on three days' rest, Schilling said, ``Don't have one. Never done it before in the big leagues.''
Before Game 3, Brenly admitted it would be risky to bring back Schilling so early.
``That's the great gamble,'' he said. ``The numbers will show over the past two or three years that it is not a good gamble, and some very good pitchers, some aces of staffs, have failed coming back on short rest in the postseason.''
In fact, it's usually been a downright disaster.
Since 1999, pitchers working on three days' rest in the postseason are 1-9 with a 9.73 ERA in 15 starts.
Orlando Hernandez is set to start for New York on Halloween night.
An early home run by Jorge Posada and a tiebreaking single by Scott Brosius in the sixth were enough to win for the Yankees. Especially when Arizona managed three hits, the same total Schilling and Johnson served up.
No baseball team has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series. Thanks to Clemens' win and Rivera's save, the defending three-time champions won't have to try to do it, either.
The Yankees have a history of coming back from 2-0 margins. They did it in 1996 against Atlanta.
The win came before Bush and a quieter-than-usual crowd of 55,820 bundled up against the cold and wind at Yankee Stadium.
``I don't think it was that intense,'' Yankees DH Chuck Knoblauch said. ``Maybe it's because the president was here and people are worried about the threats. Hopefully, it will be different tomorrow.''
Clemens was a little late taking the mound, prompting some to wonder whether he was talking to a George - president or owner, as in Steinbrenner.
From the very start, Clemens was in control. When Craig Counsell reached on an error to start the game, Clemens picked him off.
Once he got rolling, it was clear the five-time Cy Young Award winner was charged up. He pumped his fists after key outs and was a one-man cheerleading squad. He shouted encouragement to teammates and ran over to congratulate them on crucial plays.
Despite an injured right hamstring, Clemens improved to 3-0 lifetime in the World Series. He evened his often-checkered postseason record at 6-6 for 20 starts.
``After this game, I don't think he'll have to defend himself again,'' Torre said. ``He was dynamite.''
Rivera, the most dominant reliever in Series history, struck out four.
Brian Anderson pitched well enough for Arizona, but took the loss.
Tied at 1, the Yankees scored in the sixth. Bernie Williams opened with a leadoff single, Posada drew a one-out walk, and Mike Morgan relieved. With two outs, Brosius hit a soft single to left field for the go-ahead run.
The Diamondbacks, starting five players who had never appeared at Yankee Stadium, made three errors and threw three wild pitches.
``It's tough to come here,'' Anderson said. ``We knew it was going to be tough trying to beat them on their home field.''
Posada led off the second inning with a home run. He ended the Yankees' scoreless streak at 18 innings, their longest drought in Series history.
Arizona tied it in the fourth on Matt Williams' sacrifice fly.
Bush began the night by throwing a strike - his pitch even featured a little late movement, much like a cut fastball.
``Very nice throw, Mr. President,'' Brenly told the former Texas Rangers owner. ``Good stuff, good stuff.''
Bush became the first president to throw out the opening ball at a Series since Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
Bush watched three innings from an upstairs box with commissioner Bud Selig, Steinbrenner and New York Gov. George Pataki before leaving.
Notes: Ronald Reagan was the last president to attend a Series game, in 1983 at Baltimore. ... New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani watched from his usual front-row seat near the Yankees' dugout. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., sat next to the mayor.
Originally published October 31, 2001.
