The Supporting Cast Steps Into Spotlight

The Arizona Diamondbacks are understandably irritated by the perception that they’re a two-man team.

Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson can’t do it alone no matter how well they pitch, the Diamondbacks said, because even two high-profile all-stars need help.

They’re still getting it in the World Series.

The Diamondbacks’ supporting cast had another strong effort Sunday night in a 4-0 victory against the struggling New York Yankees in Game 2 before 49,646 at Bank One Ballpark.

The Diamondbacks provided an assist to Johnson a night after helping Schilling win the series opener, though Johnson didn’t need much help.

The 6-foot-10 left-hander continued his stirring postseason run, overwhelming the Yankees in a three-hit, 11-strikeout complete game.

Arizona made the most of only five hits against Yankee starter and loser Andy Pettitte, getting a run-scoring double from Danny Bautista in the second inning and a three-run home run from Matt Williams in the seventh.

Another dominant performance by Johnson and solid defense took care of the rest, and now the Yankees are in a familiar tough spot. Arizona has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with play shifting to the Bronx for Game 3 on Tuesday.

The Yankees have escaped many postseason jams under Manager Joe Torre, and Yankee Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports.

The Diamondbacks haven’t accomplished their ultimate goal yet, but the entire group appears up to the challenge.

“We’re here because of 25 people,” said right fielder Reggie Sanders, who led off with an infield single in the second and scored from first on Bautista’s double. “On any given day, we’ve had people to step up. It’s just great momentum for us.”

Craig Counsell has helped the Diamondbacks sustain their momentum throughout the postseason. The most valuable player of the National League championship series said the Diamondbacks are the sum of all their parts.

“Everybody knows about Curt and Randy, and we’re real happy we have them, but there so many guys who have contributed to our success,” said Counsell, a former Dodger. “You just always have the feeling that someone is going to get the job done.

“You look around the clubhouse, and we all have confidence in each other. We all expect that if one guy doesn’t get the hit, someone else will come through. That’s just the way it’s been.”

The Yankees are learning first-hand about the Diamondbacks’ contributors, watching helplessly as the NL champions outplayed them in the desert. Even the Diamondbacks are surprised about their fast start against the three-time defending Series champions.

“It’s been impressive for all of us in here,” Sanders said. “We thought that it would have been one-, two-run type [games]. When we came out and scored as many runs as we did [in Games 1 and 2], it’s a huge motivator for us. I don’t think they’re taking us lightly, we’re just hot at the right time.”

But Arizona is cautious.

“They’ve been down that road before, down 2-0, even this season against the [Oakland Athletics in the division series],” catcher Damian Miller said. “They’re a very experienced ballclub.

“We’re only two games away from doing it, there’s a good feeling in the clubhouse, and we think we can do it. But we know our competition in the other dugout.”

And now the Yankees know more about the rest of them.