Smelling sweet

Colon masterful in win over Yankees

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Posted: Saturday October 10, 1998 01:12 AM

Domination: Colon allowed only two hits after the first inning AP

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Maybe Bartolo Colon has the Wright stuff.

A year after Jaret Wright beat New York twice to lead Cleveland past the Yankees in the playoffs, the Indians sent another hard-throwing rookie -- Colon -- up against New York in a critical situation.

The result was the same -- an Indians win.

Cleveland beat New York 6-1 Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL championship series as Colon threw a four-hitter and dominated New York from the second inning on.

After giving up a single to Chuck Knoblauch on the game's second pitch and an RBI single to Bernie Williams two batters later, Colon handled the Yankees about as well as he did in an 11-0 shutout of New York at Jacobs Field in June.

Colon pitched the first complete game in the postseason for the Indians since Bob Lemon in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, striking out three and walking four. Colon gave up just two hits after the first inning and allowed only one Yankee to advance to second base.

The 23-year-old Colon was making just his second postseason appearance. Last Saturday, he pitched well in the Indians' series-clinching win over Boston, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings and getting a no-decision.

After that, Colon admitted to a case of early nerves against the Red Sox. He's grown up a lot since then.

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Colon wraps up a great performance with a strikeout in the ninth to end it   • Start(820 K .MOV) Torre says Colon was real tough in Game 3 (272 K) Click here for the latest audio and video
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