San Diego featured five All-Stars: pitchers Andy Ashby, Kevin Brown, and Trevor Hoffman, and outfielders Tony Gwynn and Greg Vaughn.
Brown led the staff in wins, earned run average, and strikeouts, and he also finished in the league's top five in each category.
= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Kevin Brown Tony Gwynn Trevor Hoffman Greg Vaughn San Diego wins the series, 3-1 (SD-Atl) October 17, 1998, at Yankee Stadium in New York City In Game 1, Kevin Brown took the hill for the Padres and he was opposed by Yankee ace and ALCS MVP David Wells.
The Yankees began the scoring in the 2nd inning, when rookie Ricky Ledée laced a 2-run double into the right field corner with the bases loaded.
Wells was battered hard for the only time in the postseason beginning with the 3rd when Greg Vaughn homered to right-center with a man aboard tying the game up at 2 runs apiece.
Tino Martinez took advantage of Garcia's call and on the next pitch sent a grand slam into the upper deck making it a 9–5 lead.
October 18, 1998, at Yankee Stadium in New York City In Game 2, the Bombers took a big early lead, thanks to a dreadful outing by San Diego starter Andy Ashby.
He and Qulivio Veras both scored two batters later when Tony Gwynn shot a double down the line past Tino Martinez at first base.
Though New York's reliever Jeff Nelson allowed the Padres to load the bases, Mariano Rivera came in to end the threat by getting Jim Leyritz, known for his clutch postseason homers with San Diego, to fly out.