Game Four

By David Marasco

Florida is football country. Sure, Marlins fans pack the stadium for the playoffs, but most of the time the population at large is simply waiting for the pigskin. Game Four was like a football game - after a terrific battle it came down to a kicker to win the game in the end. Or at least that's the way it felt. After a great battle between Clemens and Pavano, it came down to who had more depth in their bullpen. In the end it was Florida, who triumphed when Alex Gonzalez homered to with the game in the bottom of the twelfth.

Barring possible Game Seven action, this was the last start for Roger Clemens. While he got a great ovation prior to the game, he wasn't treated well in the bottom of the first. After disposing the first two Marlins he faced, Clemens gave up a single to Ivan Rodriguez. Miguel Cabrerra, too young to know any better, took Rocket deep to right for the 2-0 lead. Three additional singles plated another run. That would be all the Marlins could do against Clemens.

The Yankees came storming right back in the second. Bernie Williams stroked a legit hit to left, Matsui got a gift from the ump at first, and then Posada bounced one off of Pavano to load the bases. Garcia struck out, but Gonzalez drove one to deep center field for a sac fly. Juan Pierre missed the cutoff man, allowing everyone to take a base, but with Clemens at the plate the error was academic.

Then the two teams fell into a dance. There would be baserunners, but no scoring, both Clemens and Pavano ducking into minor trouble and then pitching their way out of it. Innings three through seven saw exactly three runners in scoring position. The game was moving fast, hitters and pitchers going after each other. No walks. Usually in such a close game there is a feeling of tension, but in this case it seemed a little more like some kind of machine set to automatic.

Clemens struck out Castillo to end the seventh, on the hook for the loss. He got a standing ovation from both the crowd and the Marlins. Fox coverage showed one of Roger's kids giving his mother a big hug, while clutching money. That kind of sums up Rocket for many Red Sox fans.

Meanwhile, Pavano was kicking things up into a higher gear. In innings four through eight he faced the minimum (with the help of a double play on the unlikely Roger Clemens). Some second-guessed Jack McKeon for pitching Pavano earlier in the Series, but there appeared to be no ill effects.

Urbina came out to pitch the ninth with a two-run cushion. His task was to tame the Yankees' 3-4-5 hitters. He fell behind to Giambi, but was able to induce a lazy fly to left. The Marlins closer fell behind to Bernie Williams, who singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Matsui. Matsui drew a walk, but Posada forced him at second. With two outs and the game on the line, Reuben Sierra came to the plate.

Early in his career Sierra demanded special treatment, claiming that Hall of Famers were different than normal players, and he was a future Hall of Famer. If he ever does head to upstate New York, he'll be paying admission like the rest of us, but he did have a Cooperstown moment. He tripled to right to tie up the game.

The Yankees put together the biggest threat in extra innings, loading the bases in the eleventh. Aaron Boone pulled an 0-4 on the night, striking out for the second out. Flaherty popped out for the final out.

And then, like a stroke of lightning, Alex Gonzalez homered to left to end the game. So the Marlins avoid going down 3-1. While the Marlins were able fall that far behind the Cubs and still pulled the rabbit out of the hat, the Yankees don't have the same burdens as the Cubs. In fact, according to Jeter, wait long enough at Yankee Stadium and the ghosts come out. One more game in Florida, and then back to the House That Ruth Built.