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 Added incentive For Yanks, Strawberry's illness heightens significance of Game 3
Posted: Friday October 02, 1998 09:37 AM
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The chance to sweep the Texas Rangers and advance to the American League championship series won't be the main motivation for the New York Yankees on Friday night. Winning for Darryl Strawberry will be. Up 2-0 in their division series, the Yankees learned just before practice Thursday that the stomach pain afflicting their designated hitter was caused by colon cancer. Strawberry will undergo surgery as soon as Saturday. If David Cone (20-7) can keep confusing Rangers hitters the way David Wells and Andy Pettite have before him, the team can be back in New York to be by his side. "The thing he told me was, `Go out and get the job done,'" Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I think that everyone realizes that's what he wants us to do. Hopefully, when this is all done, he will be able to celebrate with us, if we are fortunate enough to go on and do what we want to do." Cone, already dealing with Wednesday's death of former Kansas City teammate Dan Quisenberry, was shaken by the news about Strawberry, but vowed he'll be composed and focused by gametime. He said he plans to write Strawberry's No. 39 on the back of his hat. "I don't mean this as some sort of cheap way for motivation," said Cone, who also was Strawberry's teammates on the Mets from 1987-90. "Certainly, Darryl would want me to go out there and pitch. I am going to be ready to pitch, I'll tell you that." Cone in vintage form would be trouble for the Rangers, who have scored just one run in the first two games. It's their worst production in consecutive games since late June.
A big problem has been the middle of Texas' lineup. Rusty Greer, Juan Gonzalez, Will Clark and Ivan Rodriguez are a combined 4-for-31. Overall, the Rangers have drawn just one walk - to the leadoff hitter in Game 1 - while striking out 19 times. "We know we can score more than one run in 18 innings," said Roberto Kelly, 1-for-7 in the series. "We've just got to swing the bats. I believe in our offense. We've just got to go out and prove it on the field." Third baseman Todd Zeile said he sensed the Rangers psyched themselves out a bit in the first two games in New York. "Playing in Yankee Stadium against a club that's won 114 games, with all the press and fans surrounding them, I think we got a little caught up in it and lost focus on what we were there to do," Zeile said. "We just didn't play the loose, aggressive ball that we're capable of playing. ... "I think we really need to concentrate on letting it all hang out. Why not? We've got nothing left to lose. The season comes down to one day as far as we're concerned." One guy already thriving with that attitude is Yankees left fielder Shane Spencer. The 26-year-old rookie homered in his first postseason at-bat Wednesday night and scored again after singling his next time up. His two runs scored lead the team. His two hits match the combined total of All-Star teammates Chuck Knoblauch, Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams. But Spencer, who became New York's latest darling with three grand slams among his 10 homers in just 67 at-bats, said Torre hasn't indicated whether he'll start Friday night against Texas' Aaron Sele (19-11). "He hasn't said anything and he usually doesn't," Spencer said. "That's the way I like it. This way I stay prepared before the game starts. That way, if I'm not in there, I'm ready to go in off the bench."
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Cone, who tries to hold back tears, said he will pitch Friday with Strawberry's number written on the back of his cap 
