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Great Scott Brosius snaps out of slump with crucial Game 2 hit
Updated: Friday October 19, 2001 3:07 AM
SEATTLE (AP) -- Scott Brosius is making the most of what might be his final playoff run in New York Yankees pinstripes. Anyone thinking the 35-year-old third baseman was a postseason no-show for the Yankees this year learned otherwise Thursday night. Brosius performed in the pressure, as he's done many times before. He hit a two-run double to left field in the second inning to put the Yankees ahead early for the second straight game against the Seattle Mariners in the AL Championship Series. Brosius struck out in his other three at-bats, but it hardly mattered. The hit in his first trip to the plate, coupled with the run he scored in the inning, held up for a 3-2 Yankees win. "He's a big-time player," center fielder Bernie Williams said. "He's proven over the years the kind of player he is in the postseason with big hits. He showed it tonight."
Now, thanks to Brosius, New York is taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series back to Yankee Stadium, and could be into the World Series again by Sunday. Following an off day Friday, Game 3 is Saturday and Game 4 on Sunday. Brosius chose a fine time to end a 1-for-20 playoff slump. He managed one hit in 17 at-bats in five games against Oakland in the Division Series. And he went 0-for-3 in Game 1 against Seattle on Wednesday. "It's been getting a little bit better," he said. "Obviously, in the Oakland series, I didn't swing that well, and didn't swing it that well going into the last week of the season. You know, who knows why." Brosius felt relief when he reached second base. "A little bit of 'Whew! Finally!'" he said of his reaction. "A little bit of that through my head. It had been a while since I'd been on the bases." Until Thursday, Brosius had little success against Seattle right-hander Freddy Garcia, hitting .143 (1-for-7) with four strikeouts. On a team full of stars, the soft-spoken Brosius sits calmly by his locker after games, never looking to bring attention to himself. He is one of nine Yankees potentially eligible for free agency after the season. And a couple of acquisitions by New York this year indicate the sure-handed Brosius might be on his way when his contract is up. The Yankees reacquired former Michigan quarterback Drew Henson from Cincinnati during spring training. Henson, who left school a year early to join the Yankees, broke a hand early in the season at Class AAA Columbus, and played only 71 games. But he is thought to be the Yankees' third baseman of the future. In addition, utility man Randy Velarde has been a reliable backup at third base, getting six regular-season starts. New York reacquired Velarde on Aug. 31 from Texas. Brosius was a standout Thursday in the region where he grew up. The 1998 World Series MVP is from the Portland, Ore., suburb of Hillsboro, a three-hour straight shot drive down Interstate 5 from Seattle. He attended Linfield College in Oregon. Many people in Portland consider the Mariners their team, though the city brought back Class AAA baseball this year with the Portland Beavers. Brosius has come through after injury. He broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch against Texas on July 25. He was placed on the disabled list, returning Sept. 7 for a game with Boston. Manager Joe Torre has confidence in Brosius, and has kept him in the lineup.
"He's gotten big hits for us in the clutch before in postseason and other games," Torre said. "I know statistically his numbers didn't show that this year, but he's a third baseman that ... he's Gold Glove quality for me and I trust him over there. I think it's mainly he's in there for his defense, and whatever he gives us offensively as a bonus."
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