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The Toms River NJ product reflects the journey to the World Series

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The Toms River NJ product reflects the journey to the World Series

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LOS ANGELES – Mark Leiter Jr. has been to a World Series before.

From the stands at Shea Stadium, 9-year-old Leiter Jr. watched his uncle Al Leiter start Game 5 of the 2000 World Series for the Mets against the Yankees, who won it all that night.

“I remember he threw a lot of pitches (142),” said Leiter Jr., who grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. “I remember it was a close game the whole time, not much attack.

“What I remember most was how he came out to bat and the crowd was convinced he was going to stay in the ballgame,” on a night when runs were the priority.

“I probably didn’t understand it at the time, but these are big moments,” Leiter Jr. said on the eve of his first World Series as a Yankees reliever.

Leiter Jr. has exchanged text messages with his Uncle Al, and his father Mark, who pitched in 11 big league seasons but never in the postseason, will be at Dodger Stadium this weekend.

“When you go to a team that's in first place in midseason, hopefully that's what you imagine,” said Leiter Jr., who came from the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline.

“And getting to that stage is… what it’s all about.”

Mark Leiter Jr. gains a new perspective on the game

After missing the first two rounds of the playoffs, Leiter Jr. helped get the Yankees to this point, serving as a late reliever in the Yanks' last two AL Championship victories in Cleveland.

Before Ian Hamilton's calf injury opened the door for Leiter Jr., the right-hander went through some self-reflection.

“They're disappointed, but I feel like we had a really good group,” said Leiter Jr., whose signature splitter was no longer the weapon he was with the Cubs earlier this year.

In 21 games with the Yanks, Leiter Jr. posted a 4.98 ERA and “I'll probably never be honest with anyone about how hard I actually am on myself.”

“But all the other guys pitched well and they earned their spot,” said Leiter Jr., who starred at TR North in high school. “Unfortunately we had one less pitcher in each round and I guess I was the underdog.”

That changed last Friday with Hamilton's injury and the activation of Leiter Jr. before Game 4 – a game in which he entered in the seventh inning and stranded two inherited runners on base to maintain a one-run lead.

In the eighth inning, Leiter Jr. was unable to maintain that lead, but he misplayed David Fry's comebacker, allowing the tying run.

The Yankees scored twice in the ninth and Leiter Jr. became the winning pitcher of Game 4.

“You make a few pitches and something unexpected happens and the run still scores,” Leiter Jr. said.

“I kicked a ball and made a pretty hard throw (to first baseman Anthony Rizzo). And Rizzo comes out and gets the hit to open the ninth inning (rally).

“I picked the guys up earlier in the inning and they picked me up to score the tying score,” said Leiter Jr. “That really described what I was going through” and the Yankees’ style of play.

During his inactive period, Leiter Jr. was “able to be proud of what the other guys accomplished and kind of look at it from a different perspective in the dugout,” which gave him a unique perspective on the game.

He also appeared in the Yanks' decisive Game 5, replacing starter Carlos Rodon and breaking up a Cleveland rally in the fifth inning.

As soon as Leiter Jr. was activated, manager Aaron Boone mentioned he could come into a game at a critical moment, and that happened on consecutive nights.

“You don’t know where you’re going to fit in,” said Leiter Jr. “But you stay ready for whatever moments come your way.”

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