Yankees, Sunshine on Ashy New York

The New York City was enthralled by the combustion. The cause of the combustion was not an act of the terrorist attacks this time.

It was credited to the `Kingdom Without Sunset` New York advanced to the World Series four years in a row, chasing its fourth consecutive World Series title.

In best-of-seven ALCS game five at Yankee Stadium yesterday, the New Yankees defeated 12-3 the Seattle Mariners pouring bombs on the Mariner`s mound. With this win, the Yankees clinched the American League champion, recording 4 wins and 1 loss.

The World Series title will be decided by the contest between the traditionally-distinguished Yankees and the newly-emerging powerful Arizona Diamondbacks that became the National League champion for the first time.

The 38-time AL champion Yankees try to accomplish its 27th World Champion, and the 5th champion for the past 6 years. And it tries for its second four-straight wins in the World Series since the four-straight wins during 1950 -1953.

On the other hand, the fastest team reaching the World Series, four-year-old Arizona Diamonds is ready to become a fastest team conquering the top of World Series with the strong mound comprised the super starters Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson and a closer Kim Byung-Hyun.

This year, the Yankees passed through the toughest postseason tunnels. In the division series with the Oakland Athletics, it resuscitated from the verge to collage with three straight wins after two losses. And in the championship series, it had to face the Seattle Mariners, which tied the most wins record (116 wins) in the regular season.

But the experienced Yankee players have not been agitated to any kind of challenge. The Yankees took a 4-0 lead assisted by Bernie Williams` two run homer in the third. And it added four more runs to extend the lead to 9-0 in the sixth, combining five hits, a base-on-balls, and past ball to determine game rather early.

Yankee Tino Martinez fired a salutary three-run home run to amuse home fans in 9-3 eighth inning.

Seattles` lead-off hitter Ichiro hit a single at 5 bats, recording only four hits out of last five games with the Yankees.

The World Series opens its curtain at Arizona Stadium Bank One Ballpark on 28th (Korean Time).

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com