Yanks launch 'The Rocket' at high-flying Diamondbacks

NEW YORK -- Mark Grace waited his whole baseball life for this moment. So when he finished batting practice Monday night, he headed straight for Monument Park.

He'd always wanted to see Yankee Stadium. And now, while the rest of his teammates kept hitting, the Arizona first baseman studied the plaques of Ruth, DiMaggio and Mantle.

"Pretty elite company, wouldn't you say?" Grace said. "Pretty elite company."

Later this week, Grace wants to join them -- as a World Series champion.

The Diamondbacks arrived in town with a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees, fresh from dominant pitching performances by Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson.

The Yankees left a trail of bad swings and broken bats at Bank One Ballpark, along with a bitter taste for the umpiring in the desert.

Back at home, the Yankees found a change in the weather. With an October chill in the air, they broke out sweatshirts for a workout.

The Yankees also hoped to see a different Diamondbacks team. As in, the one that went 40-52 this year when Schilling and Johnson did not pitch.

Brian Anderson, who has struggled all season, will start for Arizona in Game 3 tonight against 20-game winner Roger Clemens.

"We certainly need the Rocket to set the tone and be able to give him a lead to work with," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We need to pitch. We need to dominate."

The Yankees managed only one run and six hits at Arizona, and are hitting just .102 overall.

Paul O'Neill (9-for-19, four homers), Tino Martinez (5-for-13, four homers) and several other Yankees have enjoyed success against Anderson.

New York is counting on a big night to spark a comeback similar to 1996, when it dropped two games to Atlanta before winning the next four.

"We are forewarned," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "We know what the Yankees are capable of doing. We know what they have done in the past."

Brenly, meanwhile, would not commit to a starter beyond Anderson. It could be Schilling next, although he'd be pitching on three days' rest.

"I can say that if we win Game 3 behind Brian Anderson that Miguel Batista will start Game 4. If we should happen to lose Game 3, we'll take it under advisement," he said.

Anderson was just 4-9 this year, had two stints on the disabled list and has not started since Sept. 8. Batista was 11-8 with a 3.36 ERA, pitching mostly in relief.

"A lot of people think this is a two-man team, and they are mistaken," Batista said. "I tell people: Schilling won 22 games and Johnson won 21, but who won the other 50 or so?"

Earlier in the day, many of the Diamondbacks visited the site of the World Trade Center collapse. They greeted firefighters, police officers and rescue workers, signed autographs and even were wished good luck by many New York fans.

"I think some of us had some anxiety about seeing it," Grace said. "But I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I didn't go."

Hours later, Grace, 36, was like a little kid as he entered the most storied ballpark in sports. He even was singing as he walked down a hallway toward the clubhouse.

"I'm going to stand in the same batter's box as the Babe," he said. "After 14 seasons in the majors, I finally made it to Yankee Stadium. And I made it for the right reason, to play in the World Series."

When the Diamondbacks walked to the outfield for stretching, he jogged straight to the mound.

Grace did a slow turn and took in all the sights, pointing at the famous facade above right field and the monuments beyond the wall in left-center.

While he fielded practice grounders at first base, Brenly strolled by. Smiling broadly, Grace could hardly contain his excitement.

"This is awesome," Grace said.