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Depending on Sojo works again for N.Y.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 10, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Luis Sojo forces you to believe in him, no matter his batting average or lack of playing time.

"He's such an unusual player," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He could not play for two or three weeks and can come off the bench and rise to the occasion."

Like he did in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series against the Mets in October. Like he did in the ninth inning against Boston on June 4. And, yes, like he did Thursday against the Rays in the ninth, with his team trailing by one run.

"We're just waiting for Louis Sojo bobblehead day now," starting pitcher Roger Clemens said. "It's time for him to have his own. It's definitely time."

Sojo, who entered the game in the eighth inning and was hitless in his previous 19 at-bats, delivered a two-run double that gave the Yankees a 4-3 win at Tropicana Field.

"They're always giving me a hard time, "You're unbelievable. How do you do it?' I don't know," Sojo said. "You just go over there and then swing and make contact. That was my third swing and I made contact and hit it in the right spot."

Torre stuck with Sojo, who hadn't played in the previous four games, instead of opting for a pinch-hitter as his turn to bat came against Rays closer Esteban Yan.

"I knew that in the situation, since he's been there before, that I wasn't going to pinch hit for him," Torre said.

Yan tried to pitch outside to Sojo, but missed.

With Rays outfielders playing shallow and Paul O'Neill and Shane Spencer on base, he hit the ball to the deepest part of the park -- the left-centerfield gap -- just out of reach of a diving Jason Tyner.

"I don't know why it happens," he said. "In my first at-bat today I came through. That's why this is the best game in the world -- you never know what's going to happen."

Unless Sojo's batting in a ninth inning.

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