2000 American League Division Series

The 2000 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 2000 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Sunday, October 8, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:


 * (1) Chicago White Sox (Central Division champion, 95–67) vs. (4) Seattle Mariners (Wild Card, 91–71): Mariners win series, 3–0.
 * (2) Oakland Athletics (Western Division champion, 91–70) vs. (3) New York Yankees (Eastern Division champion, 87–74): Yankees win series, 3–2.

''The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage (Games 1, 2 and 5 at home), which was determined by playing record. The team with the best record was assigned to play the wild card team, unless they were in the same division. The Athletics were not required to make up their one remaining game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in order to win the Western Division title over Seattle; as both teams had qualified for the postseason, Oakland was awarded the division title in the event of a tie on the basis of a 9–4 advantage in head-to-head play.''

The Mariners and the defending World Series champion Yankees went on to meet in the AL Championship Series for the right to advance to the 2000 World Series against the National League champion New York Mets.

Chicago vs. Seattle
The Seattle Mariners returned to the postseason to avenge two postseason failures in the 1990s. The Chicago White Sox returned to the postseason for the first time since 1993. This series ended with a game-winning bunt by Carlos Guillén in Game 3.

Game 1, October 3
Comiskey Park (II) in Chicago, Illinois

In Game 1, Freddy García faced Jim Parque. Parque struggled early and often, allowing three straight to reach against him to open the game. An RBI single by Alex Rodriguez and a forceout by John Olerud allowed the Mariners to jump out to a 2–0 first inning lead. Then Joe Oliver's leadoff homer made it 3–0 in the second. But in the bottom half, Chris Singleton's RBI triple and a wild pitch by Garcia made it a one-run game. In the bottom of the third, the Mariners' lead evaporated when Ray Durham homered to tie it and Magglio Ordóñez tripled in the go-ahead run. The game remained 4–3 until the seventh when Mike Cameron hit the game-tying single. That hit almost gave the Mariners the lead but David Bell was out at home trying to score the go-ahead run. The game moved to extra innings tied at four. In the top of the tenth, back-to-back homers by Edgar Martínez and John Olerud gave the Mariners a 7–4 lead. That lead would stand as Kazuhiro Sasaki got the save.

Game 2, October 4
Comiskey Park (II) in Chicago, Illinois

Game 3, October 6
Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington

In Game 3, James Baldwin faced Aaron Sele in the clincher. The White Sox took an early 1–0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly by Herbert Perry. In the bottom of the fourth, the Mariners tied the game on an RBI hit by Stan Javier. A pitcher's duel took place and both teams struggled to score. The game moved to the bottom of the ninth tied at one. John Olerud singled to the pitcher, but it hit the pitcher in the stomach, allowing Olerud to move to second. Rickey Henderson pinch ran for Olerud. Then Javier's sacrifice bunt moved Henderson onto third. The White Sox walked David Bell and then pinch hitter Carlos Guillén drove in the series-winning run with a bunt past a diving Frank Thomas.

Composite box
2000 ALDS (3–0): Seattle Mariners over Chicago White Sox

Game 1, October 3
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California

Game 2, October 4
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California

Game 3, October 6
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York

Game 4, October 7
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York

Game 5, October 8
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California

Composite box
2000 ALDS (3–2): New York Yankees over Oakland Athletics