Yankee Stadium

May 19, 1998: After allowing a three-run home run to Bernie Williams, Orioles reliever Armando Benitez intentionally hit Tino Martinez with a pitch, sparking a bench-clearing brawl at Yankee Stadium.

Quote: "It would be thrilling to go into Yankee Stadium in front of 60,000 fans on national television with the [season] on the line for the Yankees." -- manager John Boles on the possibility that the Marlins would play their 162nd game Oct. 2 at Yankee Stadium, but only if it would affect any races It's a fact: Adam Hyzdu, brought up by the Pirates yesterday, broke Ken Griffey's home run record at Cincinnati's Moeller High School. Who's hot: The Phillies' Bruce Chen has a scoreless streak of 20 2/3 innings.

Baseball Orioles@Yankees 1 p.m. [MASN]: In the finale of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles send Dennis Sarfate to the mound for his first career start, against the Yankees' Joba Chamberlain. Sarfate has been in 45 games this year, all in relief. He had his longest outing of the season, 3 1/3 innings, Friday against the Angels.

NEW YORK -- New York Yankees manager Joe Torre again has been forced to let Mother Nature make his pitching plans, which appears to put his club at a disadvantage in the rain-delayed 92nd World Series.The storm that washed out Game 1 last night will make both teams play through tomorrow's travel day, leaving Torre no alternative but to use struggling left-hander Kenny Rogers to pitch Game 4 at Atlanta/Fulton County Stadium. The delay appears to work in favor of the Atlanta Braves, since manager Bobby Cox already planned to go with four starting pitchers.

At Yankee Stadium, New YorkDay, Time, TV, StartersTonight, 7: 35, 13, Juan Guzman (0-1, 16.20) vs. Ramiro Mendoza (1-0, 0.00)Tomorrow, 7: 35, HTS, Scott Erickson (0-1, 6.43) vs. David Cone (1-0, 1.69)Thursday, 7: 35, 13, 50, Mike Mussina (2-0, 3.00) vs. Roger Clemens (1-0, 1.93)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Yankees updateThe Yankees have won five straight after losing on Opening Day, including a three-game sweep of Detroit at home. The Tigers were outscored 28-5, and manager Larry Parrish said after Sunday's game: "Well, I want to see somebody else play them right now. I'm ready to get out of town."

Beware in Philly, Bronx Bill Kline The Morning Call When they say 99.9 percent of baseball fans are nice, they aren't talking about New York and Philadelphia. True, alcohol makes louts out of most of us. But when you couple booze with the ornery disposition most fans in those cities acquire by kindergarten, the combination is combustible. If you want trouble in New York or Philly, just pop on the visiting team's cap, settle into your seat, duck and cover.

Who's hot Armando Benitez of the Mets has 17 saves in 21 chances and has converted his past 12 attempts. Who's not Reds starters are 1-10 with a 7.19 ERA over the past 20 games. Line of the day Brian Schneider, Expos C AB R H RBI HR 3 1 2 5 1 On deck Roger Clemens of the Yankees again tries for win No. 300 today, facing Kerry Wood and the Cubs. He said it "It's like Yankee Stadium. The people are unbelievable. They were all going crazy in the bullpen." David Wells, Yankees pitcher, on Wrigley Field

Kendry Morales, above, drives in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the seventh inning, and the Angels respond to the Yankees' six-run comeback moments earlier for a 7-6 win Thursday night that trims New York's lead in the ALCS to 3-2. The Game 5 theatrics continued up to the final pitch, when Los Angeles closer Brian Fuentes retired Nick Swisher on a full-count pop-up with the bases loaded. Game 6 is set for Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. PG 4

ANALYSIS THE YANKEES have the home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series, but the importance of the early games at Yankee Stadium is even more magnified by the pitching alignment of the Mets. They'll use strong left-handers Al Leiter and Mike Hampton in Games 1 and 2, which will leave the rotation soft for the first two games at Shea Stadium. The Mets have to split the first two in the Bronx to have a chance to exploit their decided statistical advantage at Shea. They really need to win the first two to have a real good chance of winning the World Series -- and that's a tall order.