One More for the Road

The New York Yankees have no rational explanation for this phenomenon, and at this point, don’t really care. Call it fate. Call it Yankee pride. Call it luck.

The Yankees can only tell you that after their 1-0 victory Thursday night over the Atlanta Braves in the final game played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, they are on the brink of winning their first World Series championship since 1978.

The Yankees, behind the pitching of starter Andy Pettitte, have taken a three-games-to-two lead in the World Series and can win the title Saturday or Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

“We’re going back to the Bronx zoo,” Yankee catcher Joe Girardi said, “and I hope it’s alive and kicking because we plan to rock the place. I can’t think of any place in the world more exciting to win a World Series than in New York.

“They better be ready, baby, because we’re coming home to party.”

The Braves, the defending World Series champions, figured four days ago that they would be winning successive championships at home. They easily defeated the Yankees in the first two games at Yankee Stadium, returned home, and spent the next couple of days talking about their place in history. One local newspaper even compared the Braves to the ’27 Yankees.

Instead, the Braves sat numb in their clubhouse Thursday night wondering what has gone wrong. The Yankees became the first team in World Series history to lose their first two games at home and win the next three on the road.

“We embarrassed ourselves the first two games in New York,” Girardi said. “Whatever was written about us was well deserved because we stunk. I mean, we really sunk.

“We came here listening to all of the talk of a sweep, and we just wanted to prove we could play.

“Now look at us. I wouldn’t say this is destiny, because I don’t believe in it, but there’s a purpose we’re here.”

It started with David Cone shutting down the Braves in Game 3. It continued with their six-run comeback victory in Game 4. And on Thursday, Pettitte pulled off the trifecta by pitching 8 1/3 shutout innings with John Wetteland closing out the game for the save.

“I was confident we were better than we showed in New York,” said Yankee Manager Joe Torre, who lit up a huge cigar in his office, “but I have to admit I didn’t think we necessarily were going to win all three games. This team never ceases to amaze me.”

The Yankees, who have won a record eight consecutive postseason games on the road, captured their latest victory in a style the Braves can fully appreciate:

Pitching, pitching and more pitching.

Pettitte, relying on sinkers away rather than his customary repertoire of fastballs in, never gave the Braves a chance.

He didn’t permit a hit until the fifth inning.

He allowed only three runners to reach second base the first eight innings.

He never allowed a baserunner to reach third until the ninth.

And he became the first Yankee pitcher to win a 1-0 World Series game since Ralph Terry on Oct. 16, 1962.

“This is a dream,” Pettitte said, “it’s unbelievable to win a World Series game. I felt like I had good stuff, and as long as I didn’t try to change anything or do anything different, I was going to be all right.”

Perhaps the most difficult aspect for Pettitte was watching Wetteland trying to finish off the Braves.

Pettitte, who had thrown only 88 pitches through eight innings, was greeted by Chipper Jones’ leadoff double in the ninth. Pettitte retired left-handed slugger Fred McGriff on a grounder to first base, advancing Jones to third.

Torre summoned Wetteland, who saved the Yankees’ first two victories.

Javier Lopez stepped to the plate and hit Wetteland’s first pitch right to third baseman Charlie Hayes, who threw to first for the second out.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Klesko was intentionally walked, putting the winning run on base. Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox went to the bench again and called for left-handed hitter Luis Polonia.

Wetteland threw fastball after fastball. Polonia fouled off pitch after pitch. Wetteland threw six consecutive fastballs. Polonia fouled off all six of them.

Now, with the crowd on its feet screaming, Polonia hit the next fastball toward the right-center gap.

“I thought it was a gapper,” Polonia said. “I thought I was the hero. I said, ‘That’s it. Game’s over.’

“Well, it was over. The wrong team won.”

Yankee right fielder Paul O’Neill caught the ball over his shoulder just in front of the warning track. He kept running, slapped his hands against the wall in jubilation, and sprinted toward the mound to joining the celebration.

Brave starter John Smoltz’s 29 victories during the regular season, All-Star Game and postseason were the most in the National League since Dizzy Dean in 1934, but his last game was a bitter defeat.

He lost simply because of an outfield mix-up in the fourth inning, and the one unearned run looked like a dozen the way Pettitte was pitching.

Hayes led off the fourth by hitting a deep fly ball to right-center. Center fielder Marquis Grissom, a four-time Gold Glove winner, waved off rookie right fielder Jermaine Dye, but Dye cut in front of Grissom.

Grissom momentarily took his eye off the ball and tried to make a basket catch, but the ball caromed off his glove, and Hayes was safe at second.

“Neither of us called for it right away,” Dye said, “and with all of the crowd noise, it was hard to hear. We both were running at full speed. Then I cut in front of him and blocked his vision. My fault.”

Said Grissom: “I still should have caught it. E-8.”

Bernie Williams then grounded out to second, enabling Hayes to reach third. That brought up Cecil Fielder, the man who was rescued from the Detroit Tigers in August and playing in his first World Series.

Fielder slammed a double into the left-field corner and the Yankees had their precious run, the only run they would need.

“It’s unbelievable that one little miscommunication in the outfield would cost us,” third baseman Chipper Jones said, “unbelievable.

“This whole thing is unbelievable.

“It’s kind of sickening, really.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

GAME 1

Atlanta 12, New York 1

GAME 2--Atlanta 4, New York 0

GAME 3--New York 5, Atlanta 2

GAME 4--New York 8, Atlanta 6 (10)

GAME 5--New York 1, Atlanta 0

SATURDAY--Atlanta (Maddux, 15-11) at New York (Key, 12-11), 5 p.m.

*SUNDAY--at New York, 4:30 p.m.

All games on Channel 11; *--If necessary