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Marlins get past Giants

Marlins catcher Ivan Rodriguez tags out J.T. Snow of the Giants for the final out Saturday, to give the Marlins a 7-6 win, clinching their best-of-five division series 3-1. PHOTO: AP

All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez withstood a hard collision to tag J.T. Snow for the final out Saturday as the Florida Marlins beat Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants 7-6, clinching their best-of-five division series 3-1.

"This is a start," Rodriguez said. "We have a great team, and I think we can go all the way.''

Dontrelle Willis and the wild-card Marlins blew a 5-1 lead before rookie Miguel Cabrera helped them regain the lead in the eighth with an RBI single.

Rodriguez scored the go-ahead run, jarring the ball loose from catcher Yorvit Torrealba. And when the ball scooted away, another run scored.

But the defending NL champion Giants weren't done. They scored once against closer Ugueth Urbina and had runners at first and second with two out when Jeffrey Hammonds singled to left.

A charging Jeff Conine fielded the ball on one bounce and threw a one-hopper wide of the plate to Rodriguez, the hero of Friday's 11-inning victory.

Rodriguez quickly moved in front of the plate and applied the tag as Snow bowled him over, trying in vain to dislodge the ball. Rodriguez's mask and helmet went flying, but he held the ball.

Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins pitches at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida, Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Rodriguez got up and was tackled again by a jubilant Urbina as the Marlins began to celebrate, accompanied by the roar of 65,464 fans, a record for a division series game.

"It was a very tough play," Rodriguez said. "You know, Conine is a good outfielder. He threw the ball right to me.

"In that situation I'm just going to grab that ball in my glove. I don't want to let that ball go out of my glove," he said.

The loss ended the latest bid for that elusive World Series ring by Bonds, who went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and an intentional walk.

"See y'all in spring training," Bonds said in the somber Giants clubhouse.

Yankees 3, Twins 1

In Minneapolis, Roger Clemens, in possibly his final start of a storied career, made Hideki Matsui's early home run stand up and led the New York Yankees over Minnesota for a 2-1 lead in their AL playoff series.

Clemens quieted the Twins and their Metrodome crowd, cruising through seven innings. Mariano Rivera then took over for his second two-inning save of the series.

Game 4 is Sunday, with Johan Santana pitching for Minnesota against David Wells. If the Twins win, they'll play a decisive Game 5 at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

Nobody expected the Rocket to be rattled, not even in the noisy dome -- where the Twins are still 13-4 all-time in the playoffs and where opponents often struggle with the dingy roof and the bouncy turf.

Clemens gave up five hits, a run and a walk for the victory. He struck out six in his 23rd career postseason start.

"He has a lot of pride," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

The adrenaline rush was as strong as ever for Clemens.

"If you don't have that, maybe something's wrong with you," he said. "I still have that, and I'm glad I do."

Rivera finished with perfect relief. The Twins managed only four hits in Game 2 against Andy Pettitte and Rivera.

Kyle Lohse had a hopping fastball to match the early clamor in his first career postseason start for the Twins. His first of five strikeout victims, Derek Jeter, fanned in the first inning on a neck-high pitch.

Matsui, however, was ready.

With Bernie Williams on base after a leadoff double, the Japanese League star used an uppercut swing to send a first-pitch fastball into the upper deck for a 2-0 lead.

The Yankees scored their third run in the third with three singles, the last by Williams that drove in rookie Juan Rivera.
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