BAM! YANKEES; CURTIS' SHOTS PUT BRAVES IN 3-0 HOLE : N.Y. YANKEES 6, ATLANTA 5.Byline: Bob Ford Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Inquirer Morning newspaper, long one of the most influential dailies in the eastern U.S. Founded in 1847 as the Pennsylvania Inquirer, it took its present name c. 1860. It was a strong supporter of the Union in the American Civil War. Chad Curtis Chad David Curtis (born November 6 1968 in Marion, Indiana, United States) is a former center and left fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1992-2001, notably for the New York Yankees. will probably never have his name and number emblazoned on the wall of Monument Park Monument Park is the name of several places: In the United States
• • [ , but Tuesday night he hit a ball that landed among those legends and let him run in their company for a short while. ``I know I've never even hit a walk-off home run In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game — either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning. in the regular season and to do it in a World Series. . . . Between second and third, I started to feel this electricity running through my legs. And then you round third and see all your teammates at home waiting for you,'' Curtis said. Unbelievable but true, Curtis - a platoon left fielder who struggled through a disappointing regular season - hit two solo home runs in Game 3 of the World Series, including a 10th-inning game-winner. The Yankees, hitting five home runs, came from way back to beat the Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. 6-5 and now are one game from sweeping the Series. They can wrap up their 26th world championship tonight with Roger Clemens William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962, in Dayton, Ohio), is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, and is one of the preeminent pitchers in Major League history. In 2006, a poll of 32 ESPN analysts named Clemens the greatest living pitcher. on the mound against John Smoltz John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967 in Warren, Michigan) is a Major League Baseball player currently playing with the Atlanta Braves. He is predominantly known as a starter and former Cy Young Award winner. . Down 5-1 against Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25 1966 in Concord, Massachusetts) is an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a free agent, having last pitched for the New York Mets. , Curtis began the Yankees' comeback with his first home run of the night in the fifth inning. Glavine gave up another homer in the seventh to Tino Martinez Martinez was the 1st round draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in 1988 out of the University of Tampa where Tino starred during his time on to make it 5-3. Through the long winter, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox ``He should be strong enough to go seven good innings tonight,'' Cox said of Glavine, just back from a bout with the flu that left him weak and several pounds lighter. Cox got his seven good innings from Glavine, but despite a rested bullpen, he decided to stick with his starter a while longer. Glavine had thrown only 72 pitches, admittedly, but he had also given up the two solo home runs before going out for the eighth, in which he would give up a single to Joe Girardi n. 1. A single sharp crash of thunder. 2. Something, such as a startling or shocking piece of news, that is similar to a crash of thunder in suddenness or violence. , a slicing opposite-field shot off the bat of Chuck Knoblauch tr.v. out·stretched, out·stretch·ing, out·stretch·es To stretch out; extend. outstretched Adjective glove of right fielder Brian Jordan as he reached above the fence. ``We got beat on a popup to right field, a Yankee home run,'' Cox said. ``I thought Tommy would get at least a couple of outs. He did. To me, the popup to right field, the ball goes 315 feet, that's an out in my book. But here it's not.'' Knoblauch didn't mind the distance. He was just happy with the result. ``I'm glad I hit it in Yankee Stadium,'' Knoblauch said. But it was left for Curtis to hit the loudest blow and there was no doubt about his. It came on a 1-1 pitch off reliever Mike Remlinger and was driven deep over the fence in left, just clearing the outer wall where the past Yankees legends have their retired numbers enshrined. ``It's been a tough year for me,'' said Curtis, who hit just five home runs all year and played only sporadically. ``I had a better year last year, but I never stepped on the field in the World Series. I said during the offseason if I had to reverse that and not play as much but get a chance to contribute in the World Series, I'd make that trade. I guess that's what happened.'' The comeback erased the memory of an awful start from Andy Pettitte, the left-hander who was nearly traded at the All-Star break. Pettitte was knocked around for 10 hits and all five runs before an early exit. The Braves got a run in the first on two hits and a ground out, then added three in the third on four more hits and another run in the fourth. By the time Pettitte left, the score was 5-1 and the starter had given up five extra-base hits. But, in what would be a large regret for Atlanta, the Braves left eight men on base in the first five innings, including six in scoring position. In addition to that, they ran themselves out of a run when Bret Boone was caught stealing third with none out in the fourth and Chipper Jones at bat. Jones followed with a base hit, but the potential run was wasted. ``This was a big one to lose,'' Cox said. ``We've got to run the table now. ``But we've still got our rotation set up. We've swept teams before - not in the World Series.'' No, this is a little different. There are ghosts and legends in this ballpark who have seen it all. But they still saw something special last night. ``I knew it (was out) pretty quick,'' Curtis said of his game-winner. The Braves look to be out pretty quick, too. The Yankees have won 11 consecutive World Series games. They can tie the record of 12 - set by the Yankees of 1927, '28 and '32 - if they beat the Braves in Game 4 tonight: Yankees 6, Atlanta 5, Oct. 26, '99 Yankees 7, Atlanta 2, Oct. 24, '99 Yankees 4, Atlanta 1, Oct. 23, '99 Yankees 3, San Diego 0, Oct. 21, '98 Yankees 5, San Diego 4, Oct. 20, '98 Yankees 9, San Diego 3, Oct. 18, '98 Yankees 9, San Diego 6, Oct. 17, '98 Yankees 3, Atlanta 2, Oct. 26, '96 Yankees 1, Atlanta 0, Oct. 24, '96 Yankees 8, Atlanta 6, Oct. 23, '96 Yankees 5, Atlanta 2, Oct. 22, '96 Most consecutive World Series games won: Yankees, 12: 1927 (4-0, Pittsburgh), 1928 (4-0, St. Louis), 1932 (4-0, Chicago) Yankees, 11: 1996 (4-2, Atlanta), 1998 (4-0, San Diego), 1999 (3-0, Atlanta) -streak still current Yankees, 10: 1937 (4-1, N.Y. Giants), 1938 (4-0, Chicago), 1939 (4-0, Cincinnati), 1941 (4-1, Brooklyn) Reds, 10: 1975 (4-3, Boston), 1976 (4-0, N.Y. Yankees), 1990 (4-0, Oakland) -streak still current CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box PHOTO (1 -- 2 -- color) Chad Curtis watches his game-winning home run in the 10th inning that gave the Yankees a 3-0 series lead. Inset, Curtis, who had two homers in the game, is mobbed by his teammates. Doug Mills/Associated Press Ron Frehm/Associated Press (3) Braves pitcher Tom Glavine hears it from the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of fans after being pulled in the eighth inning and seeing a 5-1 lead evaporate. Barton Silverman/The New York Times HEAVEN 11 Photo: (1 -- color) Chad Curtis watches his game-winning home run in the 10th inning that gave the Yankees a 3-0 series lead. Inset, Curtis, who had two homers in the game, is mobbed by his teammates. Doug Mills/Associated Press Ron Frehm/Associated Press (3) Braves pitcher Tom Glavine hears it from the New York fans after being pulled in the eighth inning. Barton Silverman/The New York Times BOX: Heaven 11 (see text) |
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