Injury Leaves A’s in Never-Say-Dye Situation

The best trade-deadline acquisition in baseball had to be carried off the field in the third inning of Game 4 Sunday, and with him may have gone the Oakland Athletics’ World Series hopes.

Cleanup batter Jermaine Dye, who hit .297 with 13 homers and 59 runs batted in 61 games for the A’s after being traded from Kansas City on July 25, suffered a fractured tibia after fouling a ball off his left shin and is out for the season.

Dye gave Oakland a steady bat behind Jason Giambi in the lineup and solidified the team’s defense. Manager Art Howe replaced Dye with Ron Gant, who played left field. Terrence Long moved from left to right.

Howe will probably go with the same alignment tonight against Yankee right-hander Roger Clemens in Game 5. Long, who is batting .417 (five for 12) with a team-high two home runs and three RBIs in the series, will likely bat cleanup.

“Jermaine has done a tremendous job ever since he joined us, and we’re going to miss him,” Howe said. “But the other guys have to step up.”

*

Yankee Manager Joe Torre said Clemens, who had to leave in the fifth inning of Game 1 because of a tight right hamstring, definitely will start tonight. Clemens threw off a bullpen mound for 10 minutes Saturday and again Sunday morning before flying back to New York Sunday afternoon.

But the Yankees were formulating contingency plans if Clemens can’t pitch, the most likely of which would have left-hander Andy Pettitte starting on three days rest. “I’ll approach it like I’m going to pitch, so that’s how I’ll prepare,” Pettitte said. “I realize Roger is not 100%.”

Relievers Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza each threw 12/3 innings Sunday, but long reliever Sterling Hitchcock is rested and available, and closer Mariano Rivera was not needed Sunday after throwing two innings Saturday night, so he will be rested, a big bonus for the Yankees.

Pitching Coach Mel Stottlemyre said the Yankees won’t hesitate using any pitcher. When asked what his contingency plan would be if Clemens can’t start, he said, “Johnny Wholestaff.”

*

After losing Dye in the third inning Sunday, the A’s got another scare in the ninth when shortstop Miguel Tejada fouled a ball off his left foot and appeared to twist his right knee when he fell to the ground. But Tejada, who had four hits Sunday, remained in the game and is expected to play tonight.