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Yankees: 5 Best Playoff Games of the ’90s Dynasty

By Adam Weinrib

SAN DIEGO, : Scott Brosius of the New York Yankees jumps for joy after the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres, 3-0, in game four of the World Series 21 October at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. The Yankees swept the series 4-0 and Brosius was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Don EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, : Scott Brosius of the New York Yankees jumps for joy after the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres, 3-0, in game four of the World Series 21 October at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. The Yankees swept the series 4-0 and Brosius was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Don EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners stands in front of the scoreboard in the 9th inning, 14 October 2000, during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees (DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Game 4, 2000 ALCS

Yankees ace Roger Clemens lived up to his billing on the road at Seattle.

Roger Clemens joined the Yankees, amid much fanfare, after the 1998 season.

But that first year, many fans still preferred the jettisoned David Wells, and it was a fair assessment — Clemens posted a 4.60 ERA in 1999, just slightly above league average (102 ERA+).

Luckily, his 2000 season was a different story. Coming off a 13-8 record and 3.70 mark, Clemens finished sixth in the Cy Young race, and entered October with renewed ferocity.

It…didn’t go great. He took both Ls in a five-game ALDS victory over Oakland, sporting an 8.18 ERA. So when the Rocket toed the rubber in Seattle for Game 4 of the ALCS, he had a lot of doubters to prove wrong, and he set them all down looking. Clemens struck out 15 in a one-hitter, hurling an instant postseason classic.

The Yankees won this game 5-0, taking the first two in Seattle by a combined score of 13-2, ultimately taking a 3-1 series lead.

And yes, he threw eight two-hit innings against the Mets in the World Series, and also threw a shattered bat at Mike Piazza. The Clem-aissance started in front of a Tully’s Coffee sign at Safeco, though, in an instantly rewatchable playoff masterpiece.

We’re not done with this series, either.

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