Knoblauch Is Benched in Favor of Spencer

New York Yankee leadoff batter and left fielder Chuck Knoblauch, who failed to reach base in 12 plate appearances in the first three games, was benched in favor of Shane Spencer for Game 4.

Manager Joe Torre used Derek Jeter at leadoff, followed by Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez. That gave New York four different No. 3 hitters in four series games.

Knoblauch hit .300 (12 for 40) in the first two rounds of the playoffs but has popped out or flied out in seven of his 12 World Series at-bats, “and that’s not a good sign for someone who relies on his speed and is normally a line-drive, hit-the-ball-down kind of guy,” Torre said. “It looked like Spencer was comfortable at the plate [in Game 3], and I wanted to give him another shot.”

Spencer homered in the third inning Wednesday.