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Monday, October 23, 2000

Associated Press
Hawaii's Benny Agbayani struck out in the second inning of Game 2
yesterday, but the Mets outfielder singled in the ninth to increase
his postseason hitting streak to 12 games.

Yankees hang on
against Mets

Clemens at his best - and worst -
and the Yankees stave off a big rally
by Mets in the ninth for a 2-0 lead

---

By Ben Walker
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The flashpoint was the jagged barrel of a bat, not a beanball.

And even after the New York Mets nearly pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in World Series history, Game 2 was still all about Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza.

The Yankees withstood the Mets five-run rally in the ninth inning for a 6-5 win yesterday and a 2-0 lead. Questions about the game were practically irrelevant because only one mattered: Did Clemens try to hit Piazza with the bat, or did he just throw it in his direction?

Clemens wound up pitching eight shutout innings and leading the Yankees to their record 14th straight World Series victory. But when the benches emptied in the very first inning, it was clear this Subway Series had a definite mean streak, fueled by a beaning that was far from forgotten.

"There was no intent," Clemens said repeatedly. "I was fired up and emotional and flung the bat toward the on-deck circle where the batboy was. I had no idea that Mike was running.

"I guess it came close to him," he said. "I came back into the dugout and I said I've got to get control of my emotions and calm down."

Asked about the play, Yankees manager Joe Torre snapped, uncharacteristically: "Let's try to analyze it: Why would he throw it at him? So he could get thrown out of the game in the second game of the World Series? Does that make any sense to anybody? Somebody answer me."

The umpires agreed and did not eject Clemens. But Mets reliever John Franco wasn't so sure it was innocent.

"I think he knew what he was doing all along and is coming up with excuses," he said.

Said Piazza: "It was just so bizarre."

"When he threw the bat, I basically walked out and kept asking him what his problem was," Piazza said. "He really had no response.

"I was trying to figure out whether it was intentional or not. I was going to ask him. If it was, then obviously he really had no response," he said. "I was more shocked and confused than anything."

So was Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who said he was watching the foul ball Piazza hit and did not see Clemens reaction.

"It is one of those crazy situations that seems to happen to New York teams," Valentine said.

Piazza seemed to unleash all his fury in the ninth, hitting a two-run homer off reliever Jeff Nelson. Jay Payton later hit a three-run homer off Mariano Rivera to make it 6-5 with two outs, but Rivera struck out Kurt Abbott to end it.

Scott Brosius homered off loser Mike Hampton and hit a sacrifice fly, and Paul O'Neill, Derek Jeter and Tino Martinez each had three hits for the Yankees.

Now, when the Series shifts to Shea Stadium for Game 3 tomorrow, the Mets must hope Rick Reed can somehow beat Orlando Hernandez, the only pitcher ever to win his first eight postseason decisions. His cap pulled down low and his glove held high to shield all but his eyes, Clemens held the Mets to two singles.

The Rocket was clearly revved up from the start, bouncing all around the diamond to congratulate his fielders. He hardly needed a lot of help as he struck out nine and walked none.

Throwing 97 mph fastballs, Clemens evened his career postseason record at 5-5 in 16 starts. This win came after his one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout over Seattle in Game 4 of the ALCS.

But that did not nearly match the fury that erupted in the first inning against the Mets.

Ever since the Mets-Yankees matchup was set, the whole city wondered what would happen when Clemens faced Piazza for the first time since hitting him in the head with a fastball in an interleague game right before the All-Star game.

The sellout crowd of 56,059 did not have to wait long for the answer.

Schedule

Yesterday
N.Y. Yankees 6, N.Y. Mets 5, N.Y. Yankees lead series 2-0
Tomorrow
N.Y. Yankees (Hernandez 12-13) at N.Y. Mets (Reed 11-5), 2:18 p.m. HST.
Wednesday
N.Y. Yankees (Cone 4-14) or Neagle (7-7) at N.Y. Mets (B.J. Jones 11-6), 2:18 p.m. HST

YANKEES 6, METS 5

NEW YORK (N)		NEW YORK (A)
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Perez rf	4	0	0	0	Knblch dh	4	0	0	0
Alfonzo 2b	3	1	1	0	Jeter ss	5	1	3	0
Piazza c	4	1	1	2	Justice lf	3	1	0	0
Vntura 3b	4	0	1	0	Bllnger lf	0	0	0	0
Zeile 1b	4	0	2	0	BeWms cf	3	1	0	0
Agbyni lf	4	1	1	0	TMrtnz 1b	5	1	3	2
LHarrs dh	4	1	0	0	Posada c	3	1	2	1
Payton cf	4	1	1	3	ONeill rf	4	0	3	1
Bordick ss	2	0	0	0	Brosius 3b	3	1	1	2
Hmlton ph	1	0	0	0	JVzcno 2b	4	0	0	0
KAbbtt ss	1	0	0	0
Totals	35	5	7	5	Totals	34	6	12	6

New York (N)	000	000	005--5
New York (A)	210	010	11x--6

E--Perez (1), Payton (1), Bordick (1), Clemens (1). LOB--New York (N) 4, New York (A) 12. 2B--Jeter 2 (2), TMartinez (1), ONeill (1). HR--Piazza (1), Payton (1), Brosius (1). CS--JVizcaino (1). SF--Brosius.

New York (N)

	ip	h	r	er	bb	so
Hampton L,0-1	6	8	4	4	5	4
Rusch	1/3	2	1	1	0	0
RAWhite	1 1/3	1	1	1	1	1
Cook	1/3	1	0	0	0	0

New York (A)

	ip	h	r	er	bb	so
Clemens W,1-0	8	2	0	0	0	9
Nelson	0	3	3	3	0	0
MRivera	1	2	2	2	0	1

Nelson pitched to 3 batters in the 9th.

HBP--by Hampton (Justice), by Clemens (Alfonzo). WP--Clemens. PB--Posada.

Umpires--Home, Reliford; First, Kellogg; Second, Welke, Tim; Third, McClelland; Left, Crawford; Right, Montague.

T--3:30. A--56,059.