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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Game 4 rainout may result in big fallout

Associated Press

The white tarpaulin over the Yankee Stadium infield billowed in the wind Saturday and a steady rain fell. More than 3 1/2 hours before it was scheduled to start, Game 4 of the American League playoff series between the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees was postponed.

Major League Baseball and the Fox network reset the game for tonight. If the Yankees win and force Game 5, that one would be Monday afternoon or evening in Anaheim, Calif., a quick turnaround for teams fighting to gain a berth against the Chicago White Sox in the A.L. Championship Series.

“It’s out of our control,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’ll play at midnight if they tell us to play at midnight. We’ll be ready.”

A New York victory would tie the best-of-5 series 2-2, forcing the teams to fly across the country in the middle of the night. Players would not get to sleep until 5 a.m. (PDT) or so, about 12-14 hours before they would have to play a fifth game. A day game today would have eased the travel, but television networks prefer to have games between large-market teams in prime time.

“Is it unfair? In a sense, yes,” Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi said. “But I think we all know why we’re doing it that way, and that’s part of what makes this game tick. It’s what keeps salaries up.”

No opening for closer

San Diego never led during the first two games of the National League Division Series, which means St. Louis hadn’t faced Padres closer Trevor Hoffman.

Hoffman finally got in in the ninth inning of Game 3 with the Padres trailing 7-4 at Petco Park.

Hoffman had 43 saves this year, giving him 436 in his career.

Astronomically different

This is the fourth straight postseason appearance for the Houston Astros in which they’ve faced Atlanta in the first round.

Still, the Astros are a much different team than last year.

“Well, the one missing guy in the Astros’ lineup is old Bags (Jeff Bagwell),” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “Well, they had (Carlos) Beltran last year, and that made a wealth of difference, that’s for sure.”

Cox never mentioned Jeff Kent, who like Beltran left as a free agent after last season. Bagwell is limited to pinch-hitting duties this postseason after missing 115 regular-season games because of shoulder surgery.

Plus, the Astros have Andy Pettitte back in their rotation after he missed the 2004 postseason following elbow surgery.

Welcome home

Hundreds of Chicago White Sox fans gathered outside a South Side airport on a chilly afternoon to catch a glimpse of players returning from their A.L. Division Series sweep of the Boston Red Sox.

“This is a great surprise,” general manager Kenny Williams said. “I didn’t expect this. I’m shocked.”

As the plane made its descent, the control tower flashed a green light to fans along a street bordering Midway Airport, signaling that the team was about to land.

When fan favorite Paul Konerko tried to leave the hangar, however, crowds circled the first baseman’s car, making it impossible for him to move.

Police had to intervene so he could drive away.