Grand Opening

NEW YORK - An epic pitching effort by right-hander Freddy Garcia on the grand stage of Yankee Stadium last night propelled the Mariners to a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Garcia, the 24-year-old Venezuelan who had never experienced this kind of playoff intensity, was rock solid. He allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. The Mariner bullpen, which didn't allow a run in 11 2/3 innings in the three-game division-series sweep of Chicago, finished it with 2 1/3 innings of three-hit, scoreless relief.

Garcia's mettle was tested in the sixth inning when it appeared the Yankees were about to rattle him. Garcia, who was 5-1 with a 3.20 earned-run average in September, gave up a leadoff double to Chuck Knoblauch, who started as the designated hitter because of his scatter-arm tendencies at second. Derek Jeter then walked, prompting a visit to the mound by Manager Lou Piniella.

After some discussion, Piniella allowed Garcia to pitch to three straight left-handed-hitting batters: Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams and David Justice. Garcia struck out the first two, then got Justice to hit a 400-foot flyout to deep center. The Yankee Stadium fans, who had been standing and yelling through most of the inning, fell back quietly into their seats.

In the ninth, the Japan League's all-time saves leader, Kazu Sasaki, struggled but earned his third playoff save. He allowed two hits, but didn't give up a walk and struck out one.

Rickey Henderson, a player New Yorkers love to hate, further aggravated the Yankee crowd. The wily Mariner left fielder drove home Mark McLemore from second with a two-out, fifth-inning single to break a scoreless tie. Alex Rodriguez added a solo home run high off the left-field foul pole in the sixth, providing the offensive support for Garcia.

Henderson had been vilified by these fans for his attitude and behavior when he played for the New York Mets. The Mets finally released him in May, and Henderson followed with some shots at the organization, calling Met Manager Bobby Valentine "a control freak." The Mariners signed him as a free agent May 19 and he has been a model teammate, although one who struggled at the plate.

Yankee starter Denny Neagle had a surprisingly strong start, allowing the Mariners no hits through 4 2/3 innings. McLemore finally touched him in the fifth with a double down the left-field line. Then Henderson, with the crowd chanting derisively, delivered his single to right field on a 3-2 pitch. McLemore sprinted around third and scored after a late throw from O'Neill, the Yankee right fielder.

There was plenty of concern about Neagle going into last night. He had lost his final three starts, allowing 19 runs in just 10 2/3 innings. He was bypassed in the AL Division Series against Oakland, as Manager Joe Torre used two pitchers on three days' rest instead. His last start was Sept. 27, giving up three hits and five runs in just three innings against Tampa Bay.

"I think the start of the game will be a big indicator on how he is going to do tonight," Torre said before the game.

Neagle showed that he wasn't quite ready in the first inning. But somehow he muddled through, and continued to escape self-induced trouble in the early innings.

Neagle walked Henderson to lead off the game. Mike Cameron then struck out on what could have been called ball four. On the strikeout, Henderson was stealing, but stopped midway to second. Catcher Jorge Posada threw to second baseman Luis Sojo, who relayed the ball back to first to nail the sliding Henderson. The fans loved it, punishing Henderson with jeers as he trotted off the field.

But Neagle continued to struggle. He walked Rodrguez, then went 2-0 to Edgar Martinez, prompting pitching coach Billy Connors to visit the mound. Neagle went 3-0, then 3-1 to Martinez, who ended the inning by lining out to center fielder Williams.

Neagle was at it again in the second, issuing a one-out walk to Jay Buhner, who moved to second on Joe Oliver's shallow left-side groundout. David Bell came close to driving home Buhner, lofting a ball directly over shortstop Derek Jeter's head. But Jeter, running with his back to home plate and his head up tracking the ball, made the over-the-shoulder catch to deny the run and save Neagle for another inning.

Garcia was much steadier early. He retired the first six batters - three on strikeouts - but had some simmering trouble in the third. He hit Posada to open the inning, then Sojo hit one of his look-left-hit-right singles past first baseman John Olerud. It was the game's first hit, an hour into it. Scott Brosius, who failed to put down the sacrifice bunt on the first pitch, finally hit a bouncer to the right of the mound. Garcia tipped it with his glove, but McLemore adjusted quickly. He grabbed the deflected ball, underhanded to Rodriguez at second and he fired to first for the double play. Knoblauch ended it with a groundout.

It was a play not unlike the one in Game 2 against Chicago. Reliever Jose Mesa also tipped a high hopper that McLemore also snagged and turned into a crucial forceout.

The Mariner relievers combined to complete the shutout. Jose Paniagua, who struck out Sojo to finish the seventh, struck out Brosius to open the eighth, then Knoblauch singled to left. Paniagua then struck out Jeter on a beautifully placed outside fastball. Left-hander Arthur Rhodes took over to face Glenallen Hill, pinch-hitting for O'Neill. Rhodes struck him out on a slow curve that fooled him.

The teams will return to the field quickly today for Game 2. Brooklyn-born John Halama (14-9) will be opposed by Orlando Hernandez (12-13) at 1:09 p.m. PDT.