 10/04/2003 4:40 PM ET
Game 3 game balls
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By Paul C. Smith / MLB.com
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MLB.com is awarding "game balls" -- or, in this case, Twinkies, as the lads from Minnesota are often called, and Taxis, in honor of the New York City traffic -- for performances in this year's American League Division Series.
Five cabs: VIP, police escort
Four cabs: Green lights, little traffic, life is good
Three cabs: Clean backseat, no accidents
Two cabs: Your driver takes "the scenic route"
One cab: Gridlock, 102-degrees in the city, no AC, missing window crank
Roger Clemens: The Rocket wasn't about to lose a potential final start of his career in the first round of the playoffs. Clemens did not try to strike everyone out for seven innings, he just made great pitches when he had to.
Mariano Rivera: Another perfect, two-inning outing with the game on the line. Ho-hum.
Hideki Matsui: His two-run homer in the second inning gave the Yankees a quick lead and completely took the Minnesota crowd out of play. He also singled leading off the eighth, but his teammates could not drive him in.
Bernie Williams: He reached base in each of his first four at-bats, scoring in the second inning and driving in a crucial third run in the third inning. He is hitting .500 in the series and his fielding error in the sixth ended up not mattering.
Juan Rivera: From the very bottom of the lineup, Rivera contributed three singles and a run scored to the cause. Rivera also smartly moved up from first to second on a fly out to left in the seventh inning.
Five Twinkies: You're as sweet as the frosting in the middle
Four Twinkies: You're all that, and a glass of milk
Three Twinkies: Now you're putting it away like a man
Two Twinkies: A little better, but still eating like a bird
One Twinkie: Strictly a 98-lb. weakling
Twins bullpen: They gave up two hits and three walks in four innings but no runs, and gave their hitters the chance to try to catch up.
Kyle Lohse: When he pitched down in the strike zone, he was fine. But when his fastball was up to Matsui, it went out.
Corey Koskie and Matthew LeCroy: Designated hitter LeCroy went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two runners left on base. He is hitting .091 in the series. Koskie, who simply cannot hit Clemens, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He is hitting .182 in the series.
Paul C. Smith is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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