Andy Pettitte

On most nights, in most places, against most teams, the New York Yankees would have had no worries about taking a three-run lead into the ninth inning with all-world closer Mariano Rivera on the mound. But for some reason, the Orioles, who are annually reduced to being a September spoiler while their fat-cat rivals in the American League East are pushing for the playoffs, hold their own against Rivera. Yankees @Orioles Tonight, 7:05, MASN, 102.7 FM Starters: Andy Pettitte (14-9, 3.81)

LEICESTER LOSES IT Rookie starter Jon Leicester wanted to make one last impression on the Orioles before the season ended. He did, but it wasn't a good one. He was touched for seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. In two starts against New York this season, Leicester surrendered 13 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. Orioles manager Dave Trembley had said the pitcher will get an extended look in spring training, perhaps for a role in the bullpen. He will finish the season with a 2-3 record and a 7.59 ERA. 1,500 TIMES TWO A two-run home run off Leicester in the third inning was not only Alex Rodriguez's 54th of the season, but it gave him 1,500 RBIs for his career.

Day ...................... Time ............... TV ......................................... Starters Tonight .............. 7:05............... MASN .................. Mike Mussina (11-10, 4.96) ........................................ ................................................ vs. Jon Leicester (2-3, 6.51) Tomorrow ......... 7:05 ........... MASN ....................... Andy Pettitte (14-9, 3.81) ........................................ ......................................

LEICESTER LOSES IT Jon Leicester had controlled the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels in back-to-back starts, and for three innings it looked as if he might do the same to the New York Yankees. But five of the first six batters he faced in the fourth inning reached base. Doug Mientkiewicz landed the big blow, slamming Leicester's 0-1 pitch into the right-field seats for a three-run home run. Hideki Matsui had a two-run double and Robinson Cano had an RBI single in the six-run inning that marked the end of Leicester's evening.

The attorney for former Orioles reliever Jason Grimsley told The Arizona Republic that Grimsley did not attribute steroid use to Orioles Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts or Jay Gibbons in an interview with federal investigators in April. "As to all five players [including the Houston Astros' Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte] named, Jason did not attribute steroid use to any of them," the attorney, Ed Novak, said in yesterday's edition of the Republic. "There was no mention of Roberts or Gibbons at all," Novak said.

ATLANTA -- Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte denied allegations that they had used performance-enhancing drugs, with Clemens saying he was angry and Pettitte saying he was embarrassed by a report that first appeared in the Los Angeles Times. "I'm not embarrassed at all," Clemens said in the Houston clubhouse yesterday before the Astros were eliminated from playoff contention during a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. "I'm angry about it. It just shouldn't happen." Clemens and Pettitte, his Astros teammate, were among six players named in a federal agent's affidavit connected to former teammate Jason Grimsley.

Tom Glavine said he thinks about it only when someone else brings it up. But Glavine, one of baseball's greatest straight shooters, isn't going to lie and say it's just another number. Now that he is this close, the New York Mets lefty wants to reach 300 wins, which, if he stays healthy, he'll likely get sometime next season. "It's just a difficult thing to do nowadays," said Glavine, 40, who lost in his bid for career win No. 288 at RFK Stadium Friday. "If I am able to do it, No. 1, that would certainly be a cool thing.