World Series checklist

By Evan Grant / The Dallas Morning News Decision of the day Mets manager Bobby Valentine sends up a platoon of pinch-hitters in the seventh inning. Knowing that Mariano Rivera was

Thursday, October 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

By Evan Grant / The Dallas Morning News

Decision of the day

Mets manager Bobby Valentine sends up a platoon of pinch-hitters in the seventh inning.

Knowing that Mariano Rivera was ready and waiting in the Yankees bullpen to pitch two innings, Valentine decided to try and take the lead before he could be deployed. Against right-handed setup man Jeff Nelson and left-handed setup man Mike Stanton, Valentine sent up three consecutive pinch-hitters. Nelson walked Lenny Harris, but Stanton struck out Bubba Trammell and Kurt Abbott to preserve a 3-2 lead. Rivera entered the game to start the eighth.

Hots

Mike Piazza, who hit a rocket of a foul ball and homered against Denny Neagle, is 11-for-29 in his career against Neagle.

Derek Jeter extended his World Series hitting streak to 13 games, dating to Game 6 of the 1996 World Series. It is tied for the fourth longest World Series hitting streak.

Paul O'Neill had two more hits in Game 4 and is now 9-for-16 in the World Series.

Nots

Yankees pitcher Denny Neagle has not lasted six innings in any of his three postseason starts this year. Joe Torre removed him with two outs in the fifth on Wednesday.

Edgardo Alfonzo, who was 0-for-3 on Wednesday, is just 2-for-16 in the World Series.

Bernie Williams, who is hitless in 11 at-bats in this World Series, is just 3-for-28 in his last eight World Series games.