BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : The Timing’s Perfect for Stewart, 6-3 : AL Game 6: MVP improves to 8-0 in playoff starts as the Blue Jays beat the White Sox and return to the World Series.

The Toronto Blue Jays sauntered off their team bus Tuesday afternoon, strolled the corridor inside Comiskey Park, and broke into smiles when they reached the clubhouse door.

There, lying in the hallway, were 10 empty cases of champagne. The Blue Jays, who have two consecutive American League pennants and four division titles the last five years, never were concerned about being discreet.

The Blue Jays, who later confessed it never crossed their minds that they would lose this American League championship series, calmly disposed of the Chicago White Sox, 6-3, and beginning Saturday will defend their World Series championship.

“This isn’t to sound cocky, or egotistical,” Blue Jay right fielder Joe Carter said, “but we just knew we’d win this thing. Even when they tied the series up, it was like all it did was kick us in gear.

“We’ve got the kind of team that can turn it on, and turn it off, and we turned it on when we had to.

“That’s how good this team is.”

The Blue Jays, behind starter and series most valuable player Dave Stewart, won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, winning all three games at Comiskey Park. The White Sox have not won a postseason game at home since Oct. 1, 1959, when Early Wynn defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 11-0.

“I can’t explain it, I can’t explain none of this,” said White Sox left fielder Tim Raines, who tied Blue Jay outfielder Devon White for the American League playoff record with 12 hits. “I’m numb, just numb.”

If the White Sox players were groggy and confused in the still of their clubhouse, many of the 45,527 fans at Comiskey went home incensed, venting their frustrations at Chicago Manager Gene Lamont.

Lamont, whose bungling moves left several of his players wondering if the White Sox were playing “one manager short,” was booed when he went to the mound in the ninth inning.

Absolutely nothing went right for this man during the playoffs. He was chastised in Game 1 for playing Dan Pasqua at first base, all the way to the ninth inning of Game 6, when a 3-2 deficit turned into a rout.

“I don’t say (Lamont) didn’t try to win,” said White Sox designated hitter George Bell, who remained on the bench all series, “but he showed this game is all business. I think the business was more important to them than winning.

“I think a lot of guys feel that way, but I was the one who said it, and that’s why I’m the one in the doghouse.”

The White Sox’s No. 6 and No. 8 hitters in the lineup went one for 37 (.027), striking out 16 times with only seven balls hit out of the infield.

Lamont desperately tried everyone--except for Bell, of course--with Warren Newson becoming the third designated hitter used in the series, and Mike LaValliere replacing Ron Karkovice as catcher. The only satisfaction was Newson’s leadoff homer in the ninth against Duane Ward, but by that time, it was much too late.

Stewart proved to be worth every dollar the Blue Jays spent to sign him last winter.

Stewart, who is 8-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 10 playoff games, pitched his fourth pennant-clinching game in style. He yielded only four hits in 7 1/3 innings, and if not for his wildness in third inning, might not have allowed a run.

“I’m living a childhood dream as an adult playing a child’s game,” said Stewart, whose teams have won all 10 playoff games he has pitched. “These situations that I pitch in, I’ve been through time and time again as a kid. If you get a chance to practice it enough, when it becomes a reality, it doesn’t seem to pressure-packed.

“I can’t think of many situations tonight that I didn’t feel confidence to get out of.”

The only trouble Stewart encountered in the 46-degree, blustery conditions was the third inning. He hit Joey Cora with a pitch that loaded the bases with one out, and then walked Frank Thomas, forcing in a run. Robin Ventura then tied the score at 2 by grounding into a fielder’s choice.

The Blue Jays, who had taken a 2-0 lead on Pat Borders’ two-run single against Alex Fernandez (0-2), came right back in the fourth inning simply by taking advantage of the White Sox’s blunders.

Paul Molitor led off the inning with a grounder to third baseman Robin Ventura. Ventura, who batted only .200 in the series as the cleanup hitter, attempted to backhand the ball, but it bounced off his glove, allowing Molitor to reach first.

Tony Fernandez flied to center for the first out. Ed Sprague followed with a single to right, advancing Molitor to third. Borders then hit what appeared to be a routine double-play ball, a one-hopper to shortstop Ozzie Guillen. He flipped the ball to second baseman Joey Cora, but Cora’s relay throw skipped past first baseman Frank Thomas, into the photographer’s bay.

The Blue Jays continually blew scoring opportunities to break the game open, and still led by only 3-2 until Lamont came to their rescue in the ninth. Despite retiring all four batters he faced, Kirk McCaskill was removed in place of Scott Radinsky.

Devon White, who had three hits in the game and tied Raines with 12 hits in the series, greeted him with a homer. Three batters later, Lamont pulled Radinsky and tried Roberto Hernandez. No luck there, either. Molitor hit the first pitch from Hernandez for a two-run triple, and the celebration began in the Blue Jay dugout.

The Blue Jays, who never made a lineup change the entire series--joining the 1938 New York Yankees, 1975 Boston Red Sox and 1976 Cincinnati Reds--now will be attempting to become the first team since the Yankees in 1977 and 1978 to win back-to-back World Series.

“We’ve got the championship trophy in our hands and whoever comes our way in the National League is going to have to come through Toronto to get it,” Carter said.

“I don’t envy them.”