Yankees Escapes from Edge to Stay Alive

``Who sees them as rookies?``

Just like in the 2001 ML regular season, the rookies continue to show their superpower in the postseason.

The division series on 14th was the stage only for the rookies. In a division series at Jacobs Field, Indian rookie C. C. Sabathia (21) captured his first postseason win, keeping the Seattle Mariners silence with 6 hits and 2 ERA for 6 inning start. With this win, Sabathia became the second youngest pitcher to win a division series game behind Fernando Valenzuela (LA Dodgers, then 20 years old).

With 17 hits, the Cleveland Indians won a 17-2 victory to take a 2-1 lead in a best-of-five division series, only a win away from the American League Championship series.

At Busch Stadium of the St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinal rookie pitcher Bud Smith (22) marked the brilliant start. Rookie lefthander Smith, who had recorded a no-hitter game in the regular season, limited Arizona Diamondbacks to four hits and one run in five innings with a terrific ball control.

Thanks to the vigorous outing of Cardinal lead-off hitter Fernando Vina recording three hits out of three bats including 2-run homer and 2 RBIs, the St. Louis Cardinals won a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks to move to decisive game five. Kim Byung-Hyun, who earned a save in a previous game, did not take the mound in this game.

Both teams will decide a ticket for the NL Championship series in game five at Bank One Ballpark on 15th.

The three consecutive World Series champion New York Yankees, which stood on the verge to collapse with the second consecutive defeats in home, escaped from its predicament, winning 1-0 over the Oakland Athletics thanks to the brilliant starting of Mike Mussina. Missina mastered the opponent batters with four hits for 7 shutout innings. `Special Closer` Mariano Rivera closed the game for two scoreless innings. And Yankee catcher Posada blasted a game-deciding solo homer in the fifth inning.

ssoo@donga.com