Arizona vs. New York

ARIZONA AT A GLANCE

Lineup

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RF Tony Womack .277 2B Jay Bell .289 LF Luis Gonzalez .336 3B Matt Williams .303 CF Steve Finley .264 1B Erubiel Durazo .329 C Kelly Stinnett .232 SS Hanley Frias .273 P Randy Johnson .124

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Analysis: The Diamondbacks are anything but an expansion team. They have 14 players with postseason experience totaling 130 games. Managing general partner Jerry Colangelo emphasized character in assembling his $66-million payroll. “We check our egos at the front door,” says MVP candidate Williams, who along with Bell and free-agent acquisition Finley rebounded from disappointing seasons. Bell (38), Finley (34) and Gonzalez (26) all had career highs in homers, and Williams added 35. A factor in that was Womack’s speed at the top of the lineup. He led the league with 72 stolen bases, forcing pitchers to throw more fastballs to the hitters who follow him. The arrival of Durazo (11 homers and 30 RBI in 155 at bats) as a replacement for the slumping and injured Travis Lee provided a second half boost.

* Key reserves: OF Bernard Gilkey (.294), C Damian Miller (.270); INF Andy Fox (.255), 1B Greg Colbrunn (.326), INF Lenny Harris (.310).

* Team Batting: .277 (3rd in NL).

* Team Pitching: 3.77 (2nd in NL).

NEW YORK AT A GLANCE

Lineup

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LF Rickey Henderson .315 2B Edgardo Alfonzo .304 1B John Olerud .298 C Mike Piazza .303 3B Robin Ventura .301 CF Darryl Hamilton .315 RF Roger Cedeno .313 SS Rey Ordonez .258 P Masato Yoshii .164

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Analysis: Will the Mets be a tired team? They played in New York on Sunday, in Cincinnati on Monday night and now open in Arizona on Tuesday. That’s a lot of traveling after a draining season, and could take its toll. The Mets are the first team since 1982 Angels to make playoffs despite a seven- and eight-game losing streak during the season. But lets face it, the offense rests on the shoulders of Piazza. But, as Dodger fans can attest to, Piazza’s teams are 0-6 in postseason play, with him hitting .250 in those games. The Mets have the best middle infield in baseball. Ordonez has not made an error since June 13, setting a major league record for shortstops with 100 straight games without a miscue, and Alfonzo did not make a fielding error on a grounder all year.

* Key Reserves: OF Benny Agbayani (.286), OF Matt Franco (.235), INF Shawon Dunston (.321), INF Luis Lopez (.212).

* Team Batting: .279 (2nd in NL).

* Team Pitching: 4.27 (6th in NL).

KEYS TO THE SERIES

Randy Johnson has to win for the Diamondbacks, whose Game 2 starter. The Mets, with the worst behind them, could be a formidable playoff team if their starting pitchers are not drained by their extended and pressure filled work over 163 regular-season games.

* Records: Arizona, 100-62; New York, 97-66.

* Head to Head: Arizona leads season series, 7-2.