Yankees Show They Still Have Money Players

If the New York Yankees win the World Series, and even if they do not, the chorus will echo from across the land: The Yankees buy their championships.

The Yankees spend the most money, certainly. They bid on all the free agents they need and some they do not.

But they won Thursday, thanks to two men raised in pinstripes. Nick Johnson hit the home run that gave the Yankees the lead for good, supporting the effective if not artistic pitching of Andy Pettitte in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The best-of-seven American League championship series is tied at one game apiece.

“Any time we win, someone will say it’s the payroll,” Yankee captain Derek Jeter said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who came through the organization. If you win, it can’t always be because of a guy who came in as a big free agent.”

The series resumes Saturday in Boston, without the Yankees facing the challenge of beating Pedro Martinez or falling behind three games to none. Indeed, a sellout crowd of 56,295 rocked venerable Yankee Stadium during the final inning, stands swaying as fans chanted, “We want Pedro! We want Pedro!”

Said Yankee third baseman Aaron Boone: “That was pretty cool.”

Said Jeter: “Those 56,000 people aren’t facing him. But it was fun. The fans make the atmosphere. It’s a big rivalry, and you can tell they really enjoy it.”

So do the Boston fans, who will be out in full vocal force Saturday, when Red Sox star Martinez draws the legendary Roger Clemens, pitching in his old stomping grounds at Fenway Park.

“It’s going to be electric,” said Boston pitcher Derek Lowe, who took the loss Thursday night.

Pettitte rescued the Yankees again, in a town that considers every Yankee loss a calamity. After the Yankees lost Game 1 of the division series to the Minnesota Twins, Pettitte won Game 2, striking out 10 in a 4-1 victory.

His evening did not start quite so pleasantly Thursday. Six of the first nine batters got hits, but the Red Sox produced only one run. Gabe Kapler, replacing the injured Johnny Damon as the leadoff hitter, was responsible for three of the first five Boston outs, getting thrown out trying to steal in the first inning and grounding into a double play in the second.

“I was very fortunate to get through the first two innings,” Pettitte said.

But Johnson, who was 0 for 17 to finish the regular season and one for 16 to start the playoffs, tagged Lowe for a home run in the second inning. The Yankees scored six runs in 6 2/3 innings off Lowe, pitching in a visiting ballpark after a regular season in which he posted a 3.21 earned-run average at home and a 6.11 ERA on the road.

Meanwhile, Pettitte righted himself, scattering three hits over the next five innings.

Of the Yankees’ 10 starters Thursday, including Pettitte, only designated hitter Jason Giambi and outfielder Hideki Matsui were signed as megabuck free agents. The Yankee world can be so topsy-turvy that there is concern about losing a free agent rather than signing one.

Pettitte, a Yankee since his selection in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft, is eligible for free agency this fall. He won 21 games this season, second in the league to the likely Cy Young Award winner, Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Over the last five seasons, he has 82 victories, same as Martinez and free-agent prize Bartolo Colon.

Pettitte grew up in Texas and still lives there, and he might be tempted to go home and pitch for the Houston Astros or Texas Rangers. The comforts of home, however, might not compare to the comforts of October.

In 31 years, the Rangers have yet to win a postseason series. In 42 years, the Astros have yet to win a postseason series. Pettitte can think about that, and his four World Series championship rings.

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HOW THEY SCORED

SECOND INNING: Red Sox 1, Yankees 0--Varitek doubled to right. Nixon singled to center, Varitek stopping at third. Jackson singled to center, Varitek scoring, Nixon stopping at second. Kapler grounded into a double play, Nixon taking third. Mueller grounded to third. One run, three hits, one left.

Yankees 2, Red Sox 1--Posada walked. Matsui forced Posada. Johnson homered to right, his first. Boone grounded to third. Garcia grounded to short. Two runs, one hit.

THIRD INNING: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1--With one out, Jeter singled to third. Giambi singled to left, Jeter stopping at second. Williams singled to right, Jeter scoring, Giambi stopping at second. Posada was safe on Jackson’s error, loading the bases. Matsui forced Giambi. Johnson grounded to short. One run, three hits, one error, three left.

FIFTH INNING: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1--With one out, Williams doubled to center. Posada flied to left. Matsui singled to right, Williams scoring, Matsui was out advancing. One run, two hits.

SIXTH INNING: Yankees 4, Red Sox 2--With two out, Varitek homered to left, his first. Nixon flied to center. One run, one hit.

SEVENTH INNING: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2--With two out, Giambi singled to right. Williams walked. Sauerbeck pitching. Dellucci ran for Giambi. Posada doubled to center, Dellucci and Williams scoring. Posada took third on Varitek’s passed ball. Matsui walked. Johnson grounded to second. Two runs, two hits, two left.