Yankees Keep Grip on Braves

It felt like the World Series once the game started and when it ended. As the Braves and Yankees strung zeros on the scoreboard, memories of last October flooded back into Yankee Stadium.

Luis Sojo singled home Joe Girardi from second base with two outs in the 10th inning Monday night as New York defeated Atlanta, 1-0, in a rematch of last year’s World Series teams.

For obvious reasons, the first meeting between the clubs since Oct. 26 lacked the same pregame hype and excitement of last year’s memorable Series. But as a pitcher’s duel developed, and the teams went into extra innings it felt a little like last fall.

Blanked by Tom Glavine for nine innings, the Yankees finally pushed a run across in the 10th to beat the Braves for the fifth consecutive time, including their four victories in the World Series.

Chad Curtis singled with one out in the 10th off Mike Bielecki (3-4), but was thrown out by center fielder Andruw Jones trying to take third on Girardi’s single. Derek Jeter then singled and Sojo then singled.

Girardi rounded third about the same time Jones fielded the ball, but his throw was up the line and Girardi raced across the plate and into the waiting arms of his teammates who charged out of the dugout to greet him,

Mike Stanton (5-0) struck out two in the 10th inning and got the victory.

“It wasn’t October, but it’s no less frustrating,” Glavine said.

“Tommy pitched like a money pitcher,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “It’s hard to lose when a guy pitches that well.”

The Yankees missed a chance to win it in the ninth when Paul O’Neill singled to open the inning--the seventh time the Yankees put the leadoff hitter on--and Cecil Fielder followed with a base hit to right. But Glavine got Tino Martinez to hit his second double play--the Yankees’ fifth--and struck out Charlie Hayes.

“It’s frustrating as hell when you don’t score, especially in the ninth when you take out O’Neill and Fielder and they get out of it anyway,” New York Manager Joe Torre said. “But Luis saved the day.”

The Braves got the go-ahead run to third with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Kenny Rogers, who replaced Andy Pettitte in the sixth, got out of the jam by retiring Mike Mordecai on a slow roller to third.

Pettitte coasted through five innings, giving up three hits and striking out five, but left the game because of a bruised calf after being struck on the left knee by Javy Lopez’s comebacker in the fifth.

When Rogers was announced as the Yankees’ new pitcher, the crowd booed the left-hander who was tagged for seven hits in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland on Saturday.

Rogers, though, held the Braves scoreless for four innings despite walking four.