It’s Just Jake For Yankees In A 6-1 Win

Paul O’Neill did the bombing. The Boomer did the rest.

The result was nothing new: The New York Yankees clobbered Cleveland in Jacobs Field and threatened to ruin another Indians’ October.

O’Neill hit New York’s first post-season grand slam in 33 years, and David “Boomer” Wells pitched a five-hitter as New York beat Cleveland 6-1 Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the A.L. division series.

“It’s party time,” said Wells, noted for his wild side and postseason prowess. “It’s time to get down and dirty. It’s three games and you’re gone. This team doesn’t want to go down early. They want to repeat.”

Fittingly, a Jacobs Field-record crowd of 45,274 was on hand to watch Cleveland’s old nemesis push the Indians to the brink of elimination despite getting outhit 5-4.

The A.L. Central champion Indians must now win two straight games against the team that is 16-5 at Jacobs Field since the place opened in 1994.

Until O’Neill’s fourth-inning shot, rowdy fans were waving towels reminiscent of the “Hate The Yankees Hankies” of the 1950s. That’s the decade when the Indians finished second to New York five times.

With one more win, the Bronx Bombers could be Cleveland’s demise again.

“We’ve had pressure situations all year long, and we’ve played well under those,” Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. “I don’t care how long you’ve been doing this, you feel the pressure.”

Orel Hershiser, hit hard in the Game 1 loss at Yankee Stadium, starts today for Cleveland. His opponent will be Dwight Gooden, 5-0 in five career starts against the Indians.

Wells was masterful in the Yankees’ ninth straight postseason road win. He improved to 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in the postseason.

Yankees 6, Indians 1

New York Cleveland ab r h bi ab r h bi

Raines lf 2 2 0 0 Roberts lf 4 0 0 0 Curtis lf 1 0 0 0 Seitzer 1b 4 0 0 0 Jeter ss 3 2 0 0 Rmirez rf 4 0 0 0 O’Neill rf 4 1 2 5 MaWm 3b 4 1 1 0 BeWms cf 4 0 0 0 Justice dh 4 0 2 0 TMrtnz 1b 3 0 1 1 SAlmr c 4 0 0 0 Fielder dh 4 0 0 0 TFrndz 2b 3 0 0 1 Hayes 3b 4 0 0 0 Grssom cf 3 0 1 0 Girardi c 3 1 1 0 Vizquel ss 3 0 1 0 Snchez 2b 3 0 0 0 Totals 31 6 4 6 Totals 33 1 5 1 New York 101 400 000 - 6 Cleveland 010 000 000 - 1 E-Hayes (2), Nagy (1). LOB-New York 5, Cleveland 5. 2B-Justice (2). HR-O’Neill (2). SB-Jeter (1). S-Sanchez.

New York IP H R ER BB SO

DWells W,1-0 9 5 1 1 0 1

Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO

Nagy L,0-1 3-2/3 2 5 4 6 1 Ogea 5-1/3 2 1 1 0 1 T-2:59. A-45,274 (43,863).