Tony Overman/The Olympian
New York shortstop Derek Jeter stretches to force out Seattle's Charles Gipson during the eighth inning of Thursday's American League Championship Series Game 2 at Safeco Field. The Yankees won 3-2. The series resumes in New York on Saturday.

Opening ALCS with two straight losses means M's must be road warriors

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 19

SEATTLE -- After losing both games in Seattle, the Mariners will have to earn their stripes on the road once again.

Starting Saturday, the Mariners will play Games 3, 4 and 5 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium, one of the toughest places to play in all of baseball.

"It's not an easy place to play," Seattle manager Lou Piniella said.

"If you don't have confidence, it can intimidate you, there's no question about it. The crowd is loud, raucous and there are a lot of bars around the ballpark, so the fans come in there prepared."

But the Mariners have been an excellent road team this year, setting a major-league record with 59 victories away from Safeco Field, including five at Yankee Stadium.

"In general, we've played pretty well in New York since I have been here," Piniella said. "When you have a better ballclub like we have, we can handle the situation well."

Seattle will have to deal with the extra emotional burden of being in New York for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I don't really look that much forward to going there," Piniella said.

"But we are going to do everything we can as an organization, as a team. If they need us to do some things to help out in any way, we're certainly going to be available for that. But as far as getting close to Ground Zero, no, I wouldn't want to do that."

- PLAYING THE NUMBERS: New York manager Joe Torre intentionally walked Ichiro Suzuki in the top of the seventh with a runner on second base in a one-run game -- not necessarily a textbook move.

But Torre's motives become clear when you look at the numbers.

Ichiro is hitting .468 with runners in scoring position and two outs, making the free pass almost a necessity.

Torre's hunch proved right when the next batter, Mark McLemore, grounded to first to end the rally.

"There's not many rookies you're going to walk, but he's a special player," Torre said.

"No disrespect to McLemore, but Ichiro just puts the ball in play too much and gets too many hits."

- FIRST BLOOD: For the second straight game, New York got on the board first, thanks to Scott Brosius' two-run double.

It's nothing new for the Yankees.

Since 1996, New York has scored first in 42 of its 68 playoff contests and has gone on to win 37 of those.

"That's the key to this series," Seattle outfielder Jay Buhner said.

But the Mariners have struggled to muster any offense, especially early, which gives a huge advantage to Yankees pitchers.

"It allows their pitchers to go after guys," Mariners first baseman John Olerud said. "The early lead always helps."

- LUCKY CHARM? Searching for any extra help, the Mariners brought back opera tenor Alan Woodrow to sing the national anthem before the game and "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch.

It's the third time Woodrow has performed in the playoffs.

He sang before Games 2 and 5 of the divisional series, both of which the Mariners won.

Alas, Woodrow's magic didn't work for the Mariners on Thursday.

On the web:

Mariners American League Championship Series Special Section (Oct. 17)

Seattle Mariners

Sound Off at TheOlympian.com: How do you feel about the Mariners playing the Yankees?

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