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Last gasp
Mendoza shut down major Boston threat in eighth
Posted: Tuesday October 19, 1999 01:44 AM
BOSTON (AP) -- Boston's bats were quiet and so were the fans. The end of the season was just two innings away.
Suddenly, those bats came alive, fans rose to their feet and it seemed the Red Sox would get to play another day, after all. But it wasn't to be.
Boston failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the eighth inning. A Yankees reliever was the reason: Ramiro Mendoza.
"He was awesome," New York's Derek Jeter said. "He pitched well. He really was the MVP of this game."
New York manager Joe Torre used five pitchers to end that rally, and New York beat the Red Sox 6-1 in Game 5 of the American League championship series.
The most important of those pitchers was Mendoza.
Trailing 4-1, Boston had the bases loaded with one out when he replaced Allen Watson. Mendoza struck out pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg and got Trot Nixon to pop out to third baseman Scott Brosius to end the threat.
He got out of another jam in Game 2 last Thursday night when New York took a 2-0 series lead with a 3-2 victory.
"He saved our you know whats the last week a couple of times," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
The Yankees had taken the lead in Game 2 with two runs in the seventh, but the Red Sox threatened in the eighth after David Cone had pitched seven strong innings. But Boston loaded the bases with one out in the eighth against relievers Mike Stanton, Jeff Nelson and Allen Watson.
Torre turned to Mendoza.
Again, he struck out the first batter, pinch-hitter Butch Huskey. And he ended that threat by getting Jose Offerman to fly out to center.
Series MVP Orlando Hernandez dominated the Red Sox for seven innings Monday night. He allowed no runs, three singles and struck out nine. And he seemed to be getting stronger. He struck out the side in the seventh.
But Jason Varitek, who was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts to that point, hit a 1-1 pitch for a homer in the eighth and Nomar Garciaparra followed with a double.
That was it for Hernandez, but the Red Sox kept going.
Lefty Stanton came in and walked lefty Troy O'Leary. Then Stanton departed.
Righty Nelson came in and got righty Mike Stanley to fly to center for the first out. Then Nelson left.
Lefty Watson entered to pitch to lefty Brian Daubach, but righty Huskey went up to pinch hit and walked, loading the bases. Watson left and took Boston's hopes with him because he was replaced by Mendoza, a righthander.
Boston manager Jimy Williams then sent up lefty Hatteberg to hit for light-hitting Darren Lewis. Hatteberg hadn't batted in the series and the rust showed as he struck out swinging.
Now it was up to Nixon, who had struck out twice and walked in his three previous at bats.
Three on, two outs. A homer puts Boston ahead. An out ends what loomed as their last threat of the season.
Mendoza pitched. Nixon swung and hit a harmless popup that Brosius caught for the third out.
One inning remained, but the Red Sox hopes had already faded when Mendoza entered the game. He retired the side in order in the ninth for his first official save of the series.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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