Mariners' big catch

Baseball

RUPERT CORNWELL

Just a month ago, Seattle voters rejected an increase in the local sales tax to help finance a new baseball stadium, and the Mariners' ownership was threatening to take the team out of town for good. However, this weekend's heroics against the New York Yankees have changed all that, as the Mariners battled into the first American League Championship series in the history of the franchise.

The crumbling old Kingdome has known nothing like it, as the Mariners overturned a 2-0 deficit in New York to clinch the best-of-five divisional series with a three game home sweep, topped by a palpitating 6-5 extra- innings victory on Sunday evening. For a national TV audience, it was a reminder that, strikes, selfishness and greed notwithstanding, there's life in the grand old game yet.

Seattle's three certified superstars all played a key role: All Star outfielder Ken Griffey Jnr smashed a towering home run, a weary left-handed starter Randy Johnson came off the bench to pitch three innings of relief on just 48 hours' rest, while the AL batting champion Edgar Martinez hit the game-winning double that drove in two runs at the bottom of the 11th.

Thus the stage is set for two most intriguing league championship match- ups. In the AL the Cleveland Indians, fresh from a 3-0 rout of the outclassed Boston Red Sox, tonight kick off their best of seven series with the Mariners in Seattle. Meanwhile two of baseball's thoroughbreds, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, do battle for the National League Crown.

Logically the Indians, boasting the most murderous hitting line-up in the game, should prevail. But Seattle are on a roll and in Johnson, the 6ft 10in tall possessor of a 98 mph fastball, they have the most intimidating pitcher in baseball.

In the NL, justice demands a triumph of the Braves, the best team of the last decade not to have won a World Series. However, the Reds - lacking big names but with the speed, power and pitching to cause an upset - are confident of a first ever all-Ohio World Series, between Cincinnati and Cleveland.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: AMERICAN LEAGUE: Today and tomorrow: Cleveland at Seattle. Fri, Sat and Sun* 13-15 Oct: Seattle at Cleveland. Tue* and Wed* 17-18 Oct: Cleveland at Seattle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE: Today and tomorrow: Atlanta at Cincinnati. Fri, Sat and Sun* 13-15 Oct: Cincinnati at Atlanta. Tue* and Wed* 17-18: Atlanta at Cincinnati

WORLD SERIES: Games 1 & 2: Sat-Sun 21-22 Oct: AL champion at NL champion. Games 3, 4 & 5*: Tue-Thu 24-26 Oct: NL at AL. Games 6* & 7* (Sat & Sun 28-29 Oct): AL at NL

* (if necessary)