Livan Hernandez's friends and family in Cuba couldn't see him on television tonight—but his teammates loved what they saw.
Amid an NBC News report that the television signal to Cuba was being jammed, the 22-year-old right-hander put on another gutsy effort in a big spot as the Florida Marlins defeated the Cleveland Indians, 8-7 to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series.
The win moves Florida within a victory of clinching a World Series title in just its fifth year of existence. The Marlins also have home field advantage in their favor as the series now shifts back to Florida for Game Six on Saturday. If necessary, Game Seven will be played on Sunday night.
"I still don't think there is any advantage," said Florida manager Jim Leyland. "Yes there is a one-game advantage, but one thing that is really amazing is that the postseason is unlike the regular season. In a championship series they are only one game behind so if they win they are back even."
"We've certainly been in this position before this one," said Indians manager Mike Hargrove. "This team has faced a lot of adversity throughout the year and in the postseason. We have come out playing hard when we have to."
Allowing four runs over the first eight innings, Hernandez gave the Marlins just what they needed—quality innings. After six different relievers threw at least an inning apiece over the last two nights, Hernandez gutted through a three-run third and hung tough until tiring in the ninth. His final line of six runs, seven hits and eight walks over eight-plus innings doesn't look great but the Marlins will take it.
"I think he's a little ahead of his time," said teammate and long-time catcher Darren Daulton. "He has poise and command of his breaking ball. He has that kind of special command. He's a bulldog who doesn't want to come out. You have to speak french to get him out of there."
"Livan was able to relax and get out of that jam in the third inning," said catcher Charles Johnson. "He started putting zeroes on the board in the middle innings and they were the key innings. He showed a lot of character and poise, especially after the third inning. He pitched an outstanding ballgame."
Hernandez threw 142 pitches before giving way to Robb Nen, who was tagged for a run on a pair of hits. Nen got Sandy Alomar, representing the tying run, to fly to the warning track in right field for the final out.
The save ensured that Hernandez would become the first rookie starter to win two games in a World Series since Spec Shea of the New York Yankees in 1947.
"This kid is tough," added Leyland. "He's been one of our best and I think you have to stay with your best."
Hernandez got all the offensive help he would need from the trio of Moises Alou, Devon White and Johnson. Alou had the big blow -- a three-run homer that turned a 4-2 deficit into a one-run Florida lead. White and Johnson added two RBI apiece for Florida, which pounded out 15 hits against six different Indian hurlers.
"I didn't have very good at-bats in my first and second at-bats," said Alou. "I didn't make an adjustment. Our bench told me to come in and swing the bat and I did that. I really stayed back on the pitch. I really saw the ball well, I trusted my hands and I got a good pitch to hit. Actually I got two good pitches but I missed the first pitch which was a hanging slider. I got to a 2-1 count and I felt very comfortable right there and he hung me another slider and I drove the ball."
The Indians got a huge game from Alomar, who was 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a three-homer off Hernandez in the third. But the Tribe was besieged by its pitching staff, beginning with starter Orel Hershiser. The postseason veteran was tagged for six runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Alomar, who is 10-for-22 with two homers and 10 RBI in the series, appeared headed for more postseason lore when his homer staked the Indians to a 4-2 lead. But the Cleveland bats were silent until the ninth, when their rally fell short.
"This is a never-say-die team," said Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, who is 5-for-21. "We came back against New York and we can do it again. I like our chances. There are 26 teams that would like to be in the position we are right now, needing two wins to take the World Series."
The Marlins are 5-2 at home in the postseason and have not lost two straight there since dropping three consecutive games to the New York Mets in the final week of the season.
The Indians are playing deep into October for the second time in three years and seek their first World Series title since defeating the Boston Braves in 1948.
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