FOX opened the pre-game show with a cacophony of percussion performed by Shelia E. in the foreground while distorted images of what I assume were well-known World Series images flashed in the background. I wasn't able to discern the particulars for fear of seizures.

Over the past few years, we've grown accustomed to seeing actors from FOX shows in the stands, where cameras can cut to them and promote their programs. Those people were usually at least sitting quietly and watching the game. This year FOX managed to inflict the most recent "American Idol" on viewers as the National Anthem singer. Clay Aiken's voice was not particularly pleasant, and as he neared the end of the song there was a long pause after "Oh say," that the sheepish look on his face indicated was more likely due to briefly forgetting the lyrics than a misplaced dramatic pause.

OF-L Juan Pierre led off the game with a bunt that took a path mid-way between the edge of the mound and first base. He was safe at first before anyone was able to field the bunt. While LHP David Wells threw to first more than once trying to hold Pierre during 2B-S Luis Castillo's at-bat, Pierre had a good lead and took off on the pitch when Castillo hit a pop up to the edge of the outfield grass a few yards left of the first base line. Pierre held up briefly to see if 1B-L Nick Johnson could get back to make the catch, but as soon as he knew he didn't need to tag up, he was off. Johnson hustled on the play, however Pierre was coming into third while Johnson throw was approaching second. Ivan Rodriguez hit a sac fly into center, scoring Pierre and giving the Marlins' an early 1-0 lead. Florida wasn't able to bring Castillo home, but that one run loomed over the Yankees as they went scoreless through the next two innings.

As Wells worked to keep the Marlins from increasing their lead in the top of the second, announcer Joe Buck spoke via cell phone with Robin Williams, who was in attendance. Billy Crystal had to suggest they hang up and watch the game.

OF-L Karim Garcia hit a ball into left field to lead off the bottom of the third. OF-R Miguel Cabrera was playing too far back to make a catch, and he slid when going to pick the ball off the ground, allowing Garcia to safely reach second. 2B-R Alfonso Soriano grounded out to short, but Johnson took a base on balls. SS-R Derek Jeter then hit a line drive up the middle into centerfield, scoring Garcia to tie the game and moving Johnson to third. Pitcher Brad Penny was lucky the ball didn't collide with his pitching hand, which he threw up as though trying to make a barehanded grab.

OF-S Bernie Williams flew out to shallow left field, leaving the Yankees with one out to bring Johnson in from third to take the lead. However, Florida didn't give OF-L Hideki Matsui a chance to finish his plate appearance. With the count at 1-1, IRod fired down to third where 3B-R Mike Lowell was waiting. Johnson, who'd taken a big lead, attempted to lunge back to the base, but he misjudged the distance and in replays could be seen trying to crawl forward as Lowell tagged him out.

Throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs, we frequently heard the announcers comment that the defensive shift employed against DH-L Jason Giambi limited the opposition's ability to deal with baserunners, leading us to wonder why teams didn't abandon the ploy when the Yankees had men on base. The Marlins decision not to dramatically shift against Giambi may have saved them a run in the fourth, as they were able to turn a double play.

DH-R Jeff Conine led off the fifth with a walk and moved to second when Juan Encarnacion dropped a single into center. SS-R Alex Gonzalez then pushed a sac bunt down the third base line, so the runners were at second and third when lined a ball past Jeter at short and into shallow left field. Matsui threw toward home, presumably to make a play on Encarnacion as Conine was almost at the plate. However, the ball never made it home, as 3B-R Aaron Boone cut it off and threw to first to hold Pierre to a single. Matsui's throw was slowing as it reached Boone, so it might not have beaten Encarnacion to the plate. Conversely, Encarnacion wasn't half way down the third base line when Boone made the cut, so a quick relay to Jorge Posada almost certainly would have cost Florida an out and a run. Instead, the Marlins took a 3-1 lead.

Williams hit a solo homer into the right centerfield stands in the sixth, which Matsui chased with a single, prompting Florida to send LHP Dontrelle Willis to relieve RHP Penny. The Yankees had several opportunities over the remainder of the game to push across at least a tying run, but they continued to strand runners.