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World Series Notebook Appier starts, Rodriguez wins for third time in postseasonPosted: Sunday October 20, 2002 8:35 PMUpdated: Monday October 21, 2002 4:36 AM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Kevin Appier has played 13 major league seasons and has yet to win in October. He keeps starting games and Francisco Rodriguez, with all of 12 days of regular-season experience, keeps winning them. For the third time in the 2002 postseason, Appier got the start and Rodriguez got the win, this time in the Anaheim Angels' 11-10 World Series victory over San Francisco. "I think Frankie even outdid himself this time," Appier said after the 20-year-old Rodriguez ran his postseason record to 5-0 and the Angels evened the series 1-1. "Frankie did a tremendous job. He was just amazing." Rodriguez' success has allowed Appier to sleep a little better -- especially after his rocky outing in Game 2 against the Giants. The Anaheim right-hander was tagged for five runs on five hits -- three homers -- in two-plus innings. But Rodriguez provided relief later by retiring all nine batters he faced. "If we had lost, I would really have beaten myself up," Appier said. "I'm very relieved." Appier made one playoff appearance prior to this year, in relief for Oakland in the 2000 division series when he took the loss against the New York Yankees. He has started four games this October, with his only decision a 2-1 loss to Minnesota in the second game of the ALCS. He came back in Game 5 of that series, with Rodriguez getting the win in a 13-5 victory. Earlier, Rodriguez recorded the victory in an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 -- which Appier started -- in the division series.
Different viewsAnaheim manager Mike Scioscia called the second game of the World Series, "one of the best I've ever been involved in." San Francisco shortstop Rich Aurilia didn't think it was anything special. "I don't think it was a remarkable game. It wasn't a very well-pitched game," Aurilia said. Easy to tell which team won.
UnretiringThe Giants' Russ Ortiz allowed seven runs on nine hits, including one homer, in 1 2/3 innings, while the Angels' Kevin Appier was tagged for five runs on five hits -- three homers -- in two-plus innings. The two pitchers shared a dubious distinction: It was the first time both World Series starters each failed to retire more than six batters in a game since Oct. 5, 1957, when the Yankees' Bob Turley lasted just 1 2/3 innings and Milwaukee's Bob Buhl got the hook after two-thirds of an inning of New York's 12-9 victory.
Waiting timesTim Salmon, the Angels' offensive hero in their 11-10 Game 2 win, had played in 1,388 games without making it to the postseason. The Angels' other hero Sunday, reliever Francisco Rodriguez, was called up from the minors on Sept. 18 and had 5 2/3 innings of major league experience heading into the playoffs. The 33-year-old Salmon had gone the longest among currently active players without playing in the postseason. The 20-year-old Rodriguez, whose Game 2 victory made him the youngest player ever to get World Series win, had said after he got his first postseason win, over the New York Yankees, "It's taken a long time."
Very offensiveGiants manager Dusty Baker wasn't surprised that Game 2 was so high-scoring. "This is the kind of games we see on TV, with the DH," Baker said after San Francisco's 11-10 loss to Anaheim. "This was more of an American League game. "I don't anticipate 11-10 in our ball park or this many runs scored. The ball doesn't carry and go out of the park like it does here." And the pitchers bat, since NL rules are in effect for games in San Francisco.
One run short
The Angels scored seven runs and the Giants four in the opening two innings, one run shy of the World Series record for the first two innings. The Yankees and Dodgers combined for 12 runs in the first two innings of Game 2 in 1956, won 13-8 by
Brooklyn.
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