Experience Helps El Duque

N E W  Y O R K, Oct. 6 -- The New York Yankees used Orlando Hernandez’splayoff experience and Oakland’s lack of it to move within one winof the AL championship series.

Hernandez, pitching without his best stuff, won his sixthstraight postseason decision, and the Yankees capitalized on theAthletics’ shoddy defense to win 4-2 Friday night and take a 2-1series lead.

Written off by many after losing the opener to Oakland—theireighth straight loss dating to the regular season—the two-timedefending World Series champions will send Roger Clemens (13-8) tothe mound in Game 4 Saturday night against rookie Barry Zito (7-4).

Hernandez battled through seven tough innings—with help fromhis defense—before turning the game over to closer MarianoRivera, who wrapped up New York’s 10th straight postseason win atYankee Stadium.

El Duque allowed two runs, four hits and five walks, needing 130pitches to do it. The Cuban defector had a sub-.500 regular season,but improved to 6-0 with a 1.24 ERA in seven postseason starts.

Capitalized on A’s Two Errors

The Yankees couldn’t mount much offensively against Tim Hudson,but took advantage of two errors, a couple of defensive lapses andtwo infield choppers to score their runs.

The A’s, who have eight players who are 25-years old or younger,insisted that they wouldn’t be spooked by playing at YankeeStadium. But their play in the field indicated otherwise.

Bernie Williams led off the second inning with a double for NewYork and Paul O’Neill chopped a one-out infield single overHudson’s head for his first hit of the series.

Glenallen Hill then hit a chopper that Hudson was able to field.But the 25-year-old right-hander threw home with no chance to catchthe speedy Williams. Giving up the easy out at first ended upcosting Hudson when Derek Jeter hit a two-out infield single togive New York a 2-1 lead.

New York added another run in the fourth with help from a baddecision in the field by Oakland. With Luis Sojo on first and noouts, Scott Brosius bunted in front of the plate. Catcher RamonHernandez, 24, went for the tough play at second, but his highthrow hit off shortstop Miguel Tejada’s glove, sending Sojo tothird on the error. Jeter gave New York a 3-1 lead with an RBIforceout.