The Yankees ’ three-game set against the Padres this weekend marks just their fourth regular-season series in San Diego in franchise history. The first time the Yankees brought the road greys to San Diego, of course, was in 1998, when they won Games Three and Four of that year’s World Series to complete the sweep and put the finishing touches on one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. The Yankees wouldn’t return until four years later.
When they did, it would be for a hard-fought affair, full of household names and career highlights on both sides. That series began on June 21, 2002, with David Wells taking the mound at his hometown Qualcomm Stadium. Then in his 16th season, it was the first time he’d pitched in an MLB game in San Diego (the Point Loma High School product would eventually start 58 games as a Padre during two stints in his 40s).
He’d square off against fellow lefty Oliver Pérez. The 20-year-old was making just his second MLB appearance of what would be over 700 in a career that lasted through 2022, when he made seven appearances for the Diamondbacks as a 40-year-old. Boomer got off to a tough start, allowing two in the first on a Bubba Trammell base hit that scored Deivi Cruz and Ron Gant.
He’d allow just one more unearned run after dropping a putout at first that led to a sacrifice fly from future A’s skipper Mark Kotsay. For his part, Pérez allowed just one run in 6.2 innings of work via a Rondell White sac fly that scored Bernie Wi.