Mussina eyes first playoff win tonight

He's 0-3 this year, but his relief effort in Game 7 against Boston was impressive.
MIAMI (AP) -- Forgive Mike Mussina if he feels a little left out.
He's the lone member of the Yankees' rotation without a World Series ring -- and the only one yet to earn a win this postseason.
But all that could change in the next few days, beginning tonight when Mussina starts Game 3 against the Marlins. In his third year with New York since leaving Baltimore, the 34-year-old right-hander doesn't want to let any more October opportunities slip away.
"I do appreciate the fact that even though I play for the Yankees, we're not going to be in the World Series every year," Mussina said Monday. "There's going to be some turnover on this club. There's going to be some guys that won't be back next year.
"We're hoping that we can make this group a winner again."
And he would be a big part of it, despite an 0-3 record this postseason.
First relief appearance
The last time Mussina was on the mound, he was making the first relief appearance of his 13-year career. There were runners at the corners with nobody out in the fourth inning, and the Yankees were already trailing Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox 4-0 in Game 7 of the AL championship series.
Tight spot, huh?
"Well, the experience itself was unique and a little scary and probably a few other things," Mussina said. "I was a little cranky for a day or so afterwards."
To make matters worse, manager Joe Torre had promised he wouldn't bring Mussina in with runners on base.
"He reminded us of that afterwards," Torre said. "I said, 'What do you want? We lied to you. What can I tell you?' "
Mussina made it worthwhile, getting out of the jam without allowing a run and throwing three scoreless innings to keep the Yankees close. They eventually rallied for a 6-5 victory in 11 innings.
"He was kind of an unsung hero. He pitched three key innings and stopped them cold," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said.
Three of team's five losses
Mussina has been tagged with three of New York's five losses this postseason, though he really hasn't pitched that poorly. He has a 4.03 ERA in 221/3 innings, but the Yankees didn't support him much on offense or defense.
"You'd like to maybe one time go out there and give him at least a run or two," Derek Jeter said. "As far as he's concerned, he shouldn't change a thing because he's been pitching pretty well. It's not his fault. He went out and did exactly what we wanted from him, we just didn't score."
Mussina was hurt by the long ball in the AL playoffs, allowing five home runs to Minnesota and Boston. But Ivan Rodriguez and the Marlins don't have an extra-base hit in the World Series, and Pro Player Stadium is pretty spacious.
A bigger concern is Florida's ability to play small ball. Speedy Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo love to bunt at the top of the lineup, and Jason Giambi will play first base for the Yankees despite a sore knee because there's no designated hitter.