NEW YORK -- When a shattered bat head spun toward Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, he knew exactly what to do: anything but throw it.
In Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday night, Mets shortstop Kurt Abbott broke his bat when he fouled off a pitch from Yankees starter Andy Pettitte in the fourth inning.
 | |
| Derek Jeter is the second Yankee to field a bat in the World Series -- with much less controversy. (AP) | |
Making light of the Roger Clemens-Mike Piazza bat-throwing controversy from Game 2, Jeter fielded the broken bat as if it were a ball. The ball actually went into the stands along the first-base line.
Jeter, with a wry smile on his face, scooped up the bat head with his glove and slowly handed it to the Mets' batboy. The crowd roared, recalling the play from Game 2.
Fans then began chanting "Roger, Roger" as Clemens sat stone-faced in the Yankees dugout. Piazza smiled in his team's dugout.
At Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, Piazza broke his bat hitting a pitch from Clemens and a chunk of wood shot out toward the mound. Clemens picked it up and threw it toward Piazza, who had started to trot up the first-base line.
Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown in what could end up being the most memorable moment of the Subway Series.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2000, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved