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 defending World Series champion Yankees defeated the Mariners in the AL Championship Series. They went on to win the 2000 World Series against the National League champion New York Mets in five games, for their third consecutive World title, and fourth in five years. Matchups Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees Chicago vs. Seattle For the third time in the last six seasons, the Seattle Mariners were in the postseason. 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 to deliver Seattle to their first ALCS in six years. Game 1 Comiskey Park (II) in Chicago Freddy García faced Jim Parque in the series opener in Chicago. Parque struggled early and often, allowing a single to Rickey Henderson and hitting Mike Cameron with a pitch to open the game. An RBI single by Alex Rodriguez that moved Cameron to third and a forceout by John Olerud put the Mariners up 2–0. Joe Oliver's leadoff homer made it 3–0 in the second. However, in the bottom half, Paul Konerko drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a triple by Chris Singleton, who then scored on a wild pitch by García to make it a one-run game. In the bottom of the third, the Mariners' lead evaporated when Ray Durham homered to tie it, then José Valentín walked before Magglio Ordóñez tripled in the go-ahead run for Chicago. The game remained 4–3 until the top of the seventh, when Cameron hit a two-out bases-loaded single off Chad Bradford, who had just relieved Bob Howry. That hit to right almost gave the Mariners the lead, but David Bell was thrown out at home by Ordóñez to end the inning. Seattle threatened again in the eighth and