Hernandez, Ortiz to start pivotal Game 3

Livan large: Hernandez was the World Series MVP in 1997 for the Florida Marlins. Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The World Series has arrived, so there must be a Hernandez brother ready to pitch.

Livan Hernandez will start Game 3 on Tuesday night for the San Francisco Giants against Anaheim's Ramon Ortiz -- the sixth straight year Livan or his half brother, Orlando, has made it to the Series.

No family has ever had a longer streak of success.

"It's not bad, no," Hernandez said Monday as the Series shifted to Pacific Bell Park tied at one game apiece.

"He's happy for me to make the World Series. This is the best time in baseball, when you're in the World Series."

This family should know.

Since the brothers defected from Cuba, they've been an October staple in the United States.

Start me up Click the image to launch the clip Managers Dusty Baker and Mike Scioscia talk about their Game 3 starters. Start Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

Livan was the World Series MVP for the Florida Marlins in 1997 and then watched Orlando make it to the Series the past four seasons for the New York Yankees.

Now, it's Livan's turn again.

"It's not a competition to see who makes it to the World Series," Livan said.

Not only do the Hernandezes make it to October; they shine when they get there.

Livan likes to boast about the fact that he's never lost in the postseason, going 6-0 with a 2.84 ERA. He is tied with Lefty Gomez for the most wins without a loss in the postseason.

Orlando, who might come to watch Tuesday night's game, has been nearly as tough, with a 9-3 postseason mark.

Manager Dusty Baker trusts Livan so much that he slotted him to pitch the momentum-turning third game and the decisive Game 7, if necessary.

"I think part of it is because he knows how to relax," Baker said. "The guys that know how to relax the best, but still concentrate with that fire inside of them, are usually the guys that do the best."

Hernandez acquired his big-game experience as a teenager in Cuba, when he won big starts for the youth team in international competition.

But he didn't always have such confidence. In his first outing for his club team in Cuba as a 17-year-old, Hernandez gave up three straight homers, prompting a lesson from his pitching coach.

"You need to go out and relax and not try too hard," Hernandez said. "If you try too hard, you don't throw strikes, you hang your curveball or slider. You don't want to do that in this situation in the playoffs. If you do that, they'll make you pay."

Somehow, Hernandez hasn't translated that October success to the regular season, where he is 45-45 with a 4.42 career ERA. He's had only one winning season since his memorable rookie year in 1997.

"Maybe it's a matter of concentration," Baker said. "Maybe it's a matter of pacing himself sometimes in the regular season. When you get to the playoffs, you're not worried about your next start as much as your present start."

Ortiz is still learning what it takes to perform in October.

After struggling in his first start against the New York Yankees in the opening round, Ortiz recovered to get the win in Game 2 of the ALCS against Minnesota.

"Against the Yankees, he was absolutely too amped up and was trying to throw the ball 97 miles per hour instead of 94. He got taken out of his game and pair the price," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He came back against the Twins and really was able to channel everything he needed to do."

Ortiz said being hyped up on the mound is normal for him. He just needs to figure out how to use that energy in a positive way.

"He's a very excitable type of guy," Angels outfielder Tim Salmon said. "We've seen him settle down over the year, not get so rattled at times. He's a high-strung character. He feeds off that."

Ortiz has been a heralded pitcher on his way up the Angels organization, being compared to Pedro Martinez because of his slight build and great changeup.

There are big differences between Ortiz and the three-time Cy Young Award winner on the mound. Ortiz led the majors by allowing 40 homers this season -- and he didn't even face home run king Barry Bonds once.

"I don't think about home runs right now," Ortiz said. "I think about pitching a good game."

 

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