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Martinez ties Game 4 in ninth with first hit of World Series

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Tino Martinez hit the second two-out, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth in World Series history. AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tino Martinez made his first hit of this World Series count.

With New York down to its final out in Game 4, Martinez connected for a game-tying, two-run homer Wednesday night in the ninth inning off Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim to help the Yankees beat the Diamondbacks 4-3 in 10 innings.

"I have struggled in the postseason in the past and tried to press and make up for it. This time, I took it one at-bat at a time," Martinez said. "To get a hit like that obviously is a boost for the team. Hopefully, it will get myself going and the rest of the offense."

Martinez had been hitless in nine at-bats in the Series against Arizona's tough pitching. The Yankees hadn't done much better, scoring only four runs before Martinez's big shot helped turn the momentum and tied the Series at two games apiece.

"Tino had some good at-bats last night, but the ball was carrying better tonight," manager Joe Torre said. "This is a big lift to win a game like this. We were on the threshold of being down 3-1. This was huge for our confidence."

CNNSI.com's John Donovan: Losing Game 4 left Arizona in shock, and more than a little bit in denial. Closer Look: Bob Brenly's decision to pull Curt Schilling looked brilliant ... until Tino Martinez came to the plate. SI's Stephen Cannella: Tino Martinez and Derek Jeter turned Game 4 into one for the ages. SI's Jamal Greene: The D'backs stuck with their closer one inning too long. Video Click the image to launch the clip While the Yankees rejoice, Curt Schilling and the D'backs discuss Bob Brenly's debatable decision.Start The Yankees talk about their dramatic home runs late in Game 4. Derek Jeter insists statistics don't matter with a playoff game on the line. Overwhelmed with joy, the Yankees' Paul O'Neill will never forget Game 4's drama. CNNSI.com's Ozzie Smith questions Bob Brenly's decision to remove Curt Schilling. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio. HEROES & GOATS HERO GOAT Tino Martinez, Yankees Saved the Bronx Bombers with a game-tying, two-out blast in the bottom of the ninth. Byung-Hyun Kim, D'backs Gave up the game-tying and game-winning home runs in first action of the Series.

New York didn't win it until Derek Jeter's solo shot in the 11th. Martinez was one of the first Yankees to pour out of the dugout to mob Jeter at home plate.

But the celebration wouldn't have been possible without Martinez, who made sure his career with the Yankees will last at least until a Game 6 in Arizona.

Martinez is in the final year of his contract and his future in New York is in doubt. The Yankees have been grooming top prospect Nick Johnson to take over at first base and also might be interested in signing reigning AL MVP Jason Giambi.

But Martinez is making their decision difficult, leading the team with 34 homers and 113 RBIs in the regular season.

"I'm thinking about Game 5. That's my focus," Martinez said. "I don't want to look ahead. I'm just enjoying the moment, trying to help us win a fifth championship and go from there."

Martinez has been a steady presence in the lineup since replacing fan favorite Don Mattingly after the 1995 season. Booed at first, Martinez quickly won over the fans and has been one of the key players in the Yankees' run of four World Series titles in five years.

He has hit 183 homers for the Yankees in the regular and postseason -- including a tiebreaking grand slam in Game 1 of the 1998 Series against San Diego -- but none like his shot against Arizona.

"Tino's been doing it for six years here," Torre said. "I know he's hit some big homers for us but this is probably the biggest of all."

Trailing 3-1 entering the ninth, the Yankees were looking at a 3-1 Series deficit. With the tricky, side-arming Kim on the mound, their chances didn't look good even after Paul O'Neill's soft single with one out to left field.

After Bernie Williams struck out, Martinez walked to the plate. Martinez watched the eighth inning from the clubhouse, trying to get a read on Kim, a pitcher he had never faced before.

"I figured he would try to get ahead with a fastball," Martinez said. "It was right down the middle. I couldn't have had a better pitch to hit."

He didn't wait to deliver, hitting Kim's first pitch deep to center field over a leaping Steve Finley to tie the game and send Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.

Finley caught up to a similar drive by Martinez in the first inning of Game 3, but he couldn't track down this one.

"He hit a ball like that yesterday and I thought it was gone," O'Neill said. "When he hit that ball, I was screaming to try to help it."

O'Neill wildly pumped his fist when the ball cleared the wall. The rest of the Yankees leaped out of the dugout in excitement and greeted a smiling Martinez after he touched home plate with the tying run.

"It's a great feeling, but at the same time, it's a tie game," Martinez said. "The game isn't over."

An inning later, Jeter made sure it was.

 

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