Unaccustomed

Yanks in mini-slump, out of the Bronx for Game 3

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Friday October 09, 1998 07:01 PM

New year, new hope: Andy Pettitte lost both starts against the Indians in the divisional series last year AP

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Forgetting Chuck Knoblauch's blunder for a second, is there something else wrong with the New York Yankees?

Sure, they've only lost one game this postseason, but the team that won 114 times during the regular season, the one tabbed as one of history's best, is showing some flaws entering Game 3 of the American League championship series that moves to Cleveland on Friday night.

Two of the Yankees' top hitters, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, are both batting below .160 in October, and Knoblauch is 2-for-22. The club was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in its Game 2 loss to the Indians, and they are 4-for-38 other than the five-run first inning against Jaret Wright in the ALCS opener.

Bartolo Colon made his first career postseason start in Game 4 against Boston, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings AP

The Yankees hope Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.29 ERA) can right the Yankee clipper. A 16-game winner during the regular season, Pettitte is looking to redeem himself after a dismal showing last year against Cleveland in the division series. The left-hander lost both starts against the Indians in that series and posted an 8.49 ERA, allowing 11 runs and 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings. He went 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in two outings against Cleveland this season.

Cleveland counters with Bartolo Colon (0-0, 1.59 ERA). The second-year right-hander started the decisive Game 4 of the division series at Boston, leading Cleveland to a victory despite failing to figure in the decision. He surrendered a run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out three. It was the first career postseason start for Colon, who was tremendous in his only outing against New York this year.

Colon gave up just three hits over eight innings, walking five and striking out 10 in an 11-0 rout of the Yankees on June 21. His only other appearance against New York came on September 24, 1997, when he gave up a run in two innings out of the bullpen.

Colon, who went 14-9 during the regular season, was 7-1 in his final 10 outings at home.

Related information
Stories
New York's in Gooden's corner win or lose in Game 4 Knoblauch: 'I screwed up the play' Sports Illustrated Photo Gallery: Chuck Knoblauch, 2B Sports Illustrated Cover Gallery: The Yankees The Lowdown from CNN/SI's John Donovan
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Message Boards
Get World Serious! Indians vs. Padres? Is it possible? Talk about the Fall Classic on the CNN/SI Baseball Message Board! Join the discussion
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.