Brown Gets Hit Hard in Two-Inning Stint

New York Yankee right-hander Kevin Brown pitched well in the American League division series against the Minnesota Twins, giving up one run and eight hits in six innings of an 8-4 Game 3 victory on Oct. 8, but that didn’t give the team’s front office any more confidence in the former Dodger.

“I have no idea what to expect from Kevin Brown,” Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said before Saturday night’s game. “Hopefully, we’ll get everything he’s capable of, but we really don’t have any information to go on.

“His season got derailed [by a self-inflicted injury], and he’s sort of making it up as he goes. Is he going to be terrific? Is he going to be subpar? Is he going to be mediocre? Will his back be an issue? I just don’t know.”

Cashman got an answer. And quick. Brown got cuffed around by the Red Sox, giving up four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in two innings, and it could have been worse had Manny Ramirez not been thrown out at third to end the first inning.

Brown, whose fastball had noticeably less zip, walked Jason Varitek to open the second and gave up a two-run home run to Trot Nixon. Johnny Damon’s RBI single and an error gave Boston a 4-3 lead, its first lead of the series.

Yankee Manager Joe Torre replaced Brown with Javier Vazquez to start the third. Brown, who sat out most of September when he broke a bone in his left hand while punching a wall in frustration, lasted only 57 pitches, so he should be well rested should he have to start a Game 7.

In other words, the Yankees hope this series doesn’t go seven games.

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The Red Sox have not won a World Series since 1918, but they won’t get much sympathy from Cashman, whose Yankees, under owner George Steinbrenner, have not won a World Series since -- gasp -- 2000.

“I feel like we haven’t won it in 86 years, and it’s only been three years,” Cashman said. “Our fans make us feel that way. We’re thirsty. That’s the attitude you have to have. We’re proud of our past, but all that matters is now.”

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There wasn’t much more clarity to the Curt Schilling situation Saturday. After testing his injured right ankle during a 15-minute bullpen session Friday night, the Red Sox ace experienced “the usual after-throwing soreness, nothing more and not much less,” Boston Manager Terry Francona said.

“I think what I said [Friday] still stands. We have not closed the door on his season. But that’s about where we’re at.... If he can pitch without endangering himself and he can also be productive, we would like to send him out there, but only under those circumstances.”

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Dealing with Red Sox angst has become a public service, and they’ll try anything.

A local paper ran an item with instructions in “discreet meditation ... in a social setting.”

The photo that accompanied the story was of a young Asian woman, legs crossed, eyes closed ... wearing a Red Sox T-shirt.

Staff writer Tim Brown contributed to this report.