After jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees dropped the next two to Cleveland in excruciating fashion. With their typically high-powered offense able to score just two runs total across 21 innings and postseason veteran Dwight Gooden looming, the Bombers handed the ball to rookie sensation Orlando “El Duque” Hernández for his first postseason start — in the most important game of the season for the 1998 Yankees.
October 10, ALCS Game 4: Yankees 4, Cleveland 0 (box score)
Playoffs: Tied 2-2 in ALCS (118-50 overall)
When you’ve got a rookie on the mound making the biggest start of his life, what’s the number one way to make things easier for him?