NEW YORK — A potentially riveting yet ultimately flawed World Series edged toward conclusion Wednesday night as the New York Yankees outlasted the New York Mets, 3-2, in Game 4 at Shea Stadium.

        A sellout crowd of 55,290 watched Derek Jeter, who homered and tripled from the leadoff spot, help the Yankees score once in each of the first three innings before five different pitchers combined to hold the Mets scoreless in the final six innings, including relief ace Mariano Rivera for the last two.

        The Yankees extended their Series lead to 3-1, leaving them one victory short of their third consecutive title and fourth in the last five years.

The New York Yankee's Paul O'Neill (left) is congratulated by teammate Derek Jeter after O'Neill scored on a sacrifice fly in the second inning. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        Yet despite the Yankees' three one-run victories and the Mets' lone triumph in their last at-bat Tuesday, this Fall Classic won't be remembered for its drama.

        Though this is the first Subway Series in 44 years between two proud, scrappy New York clubs, this matchup won't be known for riveting competition.

        Instead, it'll go down in history for its controversy, which continued as Yankees manager Joe Torre removed starter Denny Neagle with two outs, nobody on base and Mike Piazza due up in the Mets' half of the fifth.

        In came David Cone, who Torre briefly considered starting in this game. Torre obviously wanted the right-handed Cone to pitch to Piazza, who lashed a two-run homer off Neagle in the third inning.

        But that was the only major mistake committed by the former Reds left-hander who, since he didn't last five innings, failed to qualify for his first victory of this postseason and his four-game Series career. Obviously miffed, Neagle strode off the mound with a steely expression.

        Before the ninth inning, a major-league official announced that postgame interviews could not be conducted in the Yankees clubhouse, since a pipe had burst there. Press-box jokesters immediately speculated that Neagle had broken it in anger.

        Torre's move worked, as Piazza popped out to second base. But Cone also quickly vanished, as Jose Canseco batted for him and was called out on strikes with two on and two out in the sixth.

        Torre had said that Game 4 “belonged to” both Neagle, who threw only 73 pitches, and Cone, the former ace who endured injuries and ineffectiveness during a 4-14 season. But Torre chose Neagle to start, believing that he could pitch deeper into the game.

        Tuesday, Torre absorbed criticism for allowing Orlando Hernandez to pitch the eighth inning, resulting in a pair of Mets runs that won Game 3 for them.

        Sunday, of course, was highlighted by Roger Clemens' bat toss.

        Between the lines, at least, the Yankees were the Yankees.

        They were led by Jeter, who Torre decided to elevate from the No. 2 spot in the batting order. Chuck Knoblauch, who led off the first two games as the designated hitter, was shackled to the bench, and Jose Vizcaino, who hit first and played second base Tuesday, was replaced by Luis Sojo, who lacks a leadoff batter's skill.

        This left Jeter, who led off 21 times in the regular season. “I'd like to see him score a run in the first in ning,” Torre said prophetically before the game.

        So Jeter homered on the first pitch from Mets starter Bobby Jones. It marked the eighth time that a homer had christened a Series game. Remarkably, though Jeter owns a robust .347 (25-for-72) career Series average, it was his first Fall Classic homer.

        Jeter also scored in the third inning, tripling to right-center field and coming home on Sojo's groundout. In between, Paul O'Neill stroked his second triple in two nights and scored on Scott Brosius' sacrifice fly.

        The Mets reduced the difference to 3-2 in the third inning on Piazza's second homer of the Series with one out and Timo Perez aboard. Piazza, who pulled a long drive foul in the first inning before striking out, lined Neagle's 1-0 pitch into the left-field pavilion.

Yanks 1 win from title Piniella to meet with Seattle today SULLIVAN: Derek Jeter SULLIVAN: John Franco 1975 World Series: Game 4

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