NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera combined on a three-hitter and Scott Brosius snapped a sixth-inning tie with an RBI single as the New York Yankees took advantage of sloppy play by the Arizona Diamondbacks to post a 2-1 triumph Tuesday night in Game Three of the World Series.
Leading two games to none, Arizona had a chance to put a stranglehold on the series with a win.
The Diamondbacks got a great outing from starter Brian Anderson but committed three errors, saw their pitchers throw three wild pitches and ran themselves out of the opening inning.
The Yankees again struggled offensively. They got only seven hits, including a home run by Jorge Posada in the second inning, but Clemens and Rivera throttled an Arizona attack that scored 13 runs in the first two games.
Clemens improved to 3-0 in five career World Series starts, allowing a run, three singles and three walks in seven innings. He struck out nine and lowered his World Series ERA to 1.59.
Pitching for the first time in eight days, Rivera struck out four of the final six batters for his record eighth career World Series save.
No team ever has erased a three games to none deficit in the postseason and Arizona may look back at this effort as the turning point. New York improved to 17-3 in its last 20 World Series games and sends postseason ace Orlando Hernandez to the mound in Game Four on Wednesday.
The loss clouds Arizona's plans for Game Four as the Diamondbacks appeared set to bypass Miguel Batista in favor of Game One winner Curt Schilling. No matter who gets the call, the Diamondbacks have surrendered momentum to the three-time defending champions.
President Bush , in attendance with his wife, pitched out the first ball Tuesday night. There was heavy security at the game but apparently no incidents.
