ATLANTA -- There will be a lot of firsts for the New York Yankees pitchers before the 92nd World Series is over. Reliever Mariano Rivera batted for the first time in his major-league career in Tuesday night's 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3. He managed to ground out to second. "That was the first time I hit in a game since 1989 when I was an amateur in Panama," Rivera said. Game 4 starter Kenny Rogers had never batted during his big league career until last night. He singled in his first at-bat. Andy Pettitte, the Yankees' scheduled starter for Game 5 tonight has never batted either. "I'm not concerned about their hitting. The most important thing is that they can put down a bunt if necessary," said New York hitting coach Chris Chambliss. "It's just not fair," Chambliss said, "that they have to bat against what is probably the best pitching staff in baseball." But, he added, "If they've got a bat in their hands, they just might hit it. I've seen Kenny hit the ball in batting practice. He puts the ball in play." Pettitte, he said, swings for power. "I've seen him hit a couple of home runs in BP." Pettitte even has his own model bat, a C243 model Louisville Slugger, but due to a foul up at the factory, it's color came out a pastel pink. "That's his pretty bat," said teammate and personal catcher, Jim Leyritz.
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