Illness hangs over Game 4

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Posted: Tuesday October 20, 1998 09:09 PM

Kevin Brown went 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA during the regular season AP

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Illness hangs over Game 4 of the World Series.

San Diego's Kevin Brown has flu-like symptoms and doesn't know if he'll be able to pitch against the Yankees on Wednesday night.

New York's Andy Pettitte has been distracted for a week, ever since his father had emergency heart bypass surgery in Houston.

"Baseball wasn't really on my mind when I was at Yankee Stadium the first couple of days. You're just out of it a little bit," said Pettitte, who returned to New York shortly before Saturday night's opener against the Padres.

Brown, who left Game 1 with a 5-2 lead only to watch the bullpen blow it, had a fever when he started the opener. Padres manager Bruce Bochy wouldn't commit to starting Brown or Joey Hamilton in Game 4, but the consensus seemed to be it would be Brown.

"If he can stand up and throw a strike, he wants the ball," Padres first baseman Wally Joyner said Tuesday. "He's pitched with all kinds of injuries and ailments this year and has done very well."

New York held a 2-0 lead going into Game 3 and Bochy said he wouldn't make a final decision until later Tuesday night.

"We're still checking with Brown; we'd like to make sure he's OK," Bochy said about two hours before game time.

Brown, San Diego's ace, tried to hide his illness last weekend. He didn't look like the pitcher who went 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA during the regular season and followed it with a strong postseason.

"I really caught wind of it around the sixth inning," Bochy said. "But you could tell something was wrong, just looking at him. And even watching him out on the mound, he didn't look well."

Even if Brown hasn't recovered, he may try to pitch Game 4.

"I'm not confident he's going to be honest with me," Bochy said. "Knowing the kind of guy Kevin is, he's going to do what he thinks is best for the ball club, for us, and you'd like him to be honest."

Pettitte's problem for much of the year is that he's been too honest. He repeatedly voiced doubts and insecurities about his mechanics, finishing 16-11 with a 4.24 ERA as he struggled with his control.

He beat Texas in the first round but hasn't pitched since October 9, when Cleveland tagged him for six runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings, defeating the Yankees 6-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the ALCS.

During his trip to Houston, Pettitte threw at his old high school in an attempt to make sure his arm didn't get too strong. He hasn't pitched well when he's had long layoffs between outings.

"Basically, I'm going to try to throw away the Cleveland start," Pettitte said. "I felt very strong in that game and my command was just terrible."

His father is doing well, which is a relief.

"I think if I would have had to throw in New York, it would have been real difficult," Pettitte said. "I had a chance to talk to him this morning, and he had a blood transfusion and he's feeling 100 percent better. I feel great about everything back home and I don't think it's going to be a problem at all."

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