Monday, November 2, 2009

Yankee Talk: World Series Edition – Back to the Bronx

Yanks unable to win title, lose 8-6 to Phillies


PHILADELPHIA
– Put the celebration on hold.

The Yankees, if they want to win their 27th world championship, it will have to happen back at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night in Game 6.

Put in a deep hole early in the game by AJ Burnett, who was removed after two innings, the Yankees attempted a late rally, but eventually fell short, losing Game 5 of the World Series to the Phillies 8-6 in front of 46,178 at Citizens Bank Park.

After trailing by as many as six runs going into the eighth inning, the Yankees scored three runs in that frame and had the tying run at the plate in the ninth before Mark Teixeira struck out to end the game.

AJ Burnett put the Yankees in an early hole from the very first inning. He was given a 1-0 lead before throwing a pitch when Alex Rodriguez doubled into the right field corner off Phillies starter Cliff Lee.

After yielding a single to Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino reached when on a bunt attempt. Burnett’s fastball ran inside on his hands, landing him on the dirt.

Chase Utley would make him pay by drilling Burnett’s first pitch fastball for three-run blast to give the Phillies a 3-1 advantage. After not allowing a run in the second, Burnett found trouble in the third inning when he walked Utley and Ryan Howard to start. A hanging curveball to Jayson Werth was lined into center for an RBI single and Raul Ibanez followed with one of his own to make it 6-1 as Manager Joe Girardi ended Burnett’s night.

The enigmatic right hander had nothing, going only two innings, allowing six runs and four hits, walking four in a 53 pitch outing.

David Robertson and Alfredo Aceves teamed up to pitch four scoreless innings and held the Phillies at six, but getting additional runs off Lee was going to be very difficult. The Yankees scored a run on an RBI groundout to trim the margin to four.

It was 6-2 after six innings, but the Phillies were able to take on two additional runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off lefty Phil Coke. Utley hit his fifth homerun of the series on a deep fly to right center. With two outs, Ibanez crushed a homerun off the second deck in right.

The rally began for the Yankees in the eighth when Damon reached on an infield single. Teixeira doubled and Rodriguez brought in both runs by doubling to left center. Ibanez made a dive attempt, but the ball hit off his glove. That marked the end of the night for Cliff Lee, who was far more hittable in this start than at any point in the postseason.

Lee went seven innings, giving up five runs and seven hits, walking three and striking out three on 112 pitches.

Chan Ho Park came in to relieve Lee and the score became 8-5 when Rodriguez scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Robinson Cano.

Electing not to use closer Brad Lidge with a three-run lead In the ninth, Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel chose to use eighth inning specialist Ryan Madson to get the final three outs. Madson quickly got into trouble as the Yankees got the first two men on to start. Jorge Posada doubled and pinch hitter Hideki Matsui singled to left to bring Derek Jeter up as the tying run.

Jeter got ahead of the count 2-0 and after Madson threw a strike, Jeter swung at a sinker and grounded into a double play. Posada scored, but now there were two outs and no one on base with the Yankees trailing by two.

Damon extended the game with a single to center and Teixeira stepped to the plate with Rodriguez in the on deck circle. Teixeira quickly fell behind 0-2, and after holding up on a changeup for a ball, Madson threw another changeup for a strikeout to end the game.

The series now returns to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night for Game 6. Andy Pettitte will work on three days rest for the Yankees and Pedro Martinez takes the ball for the Phillies who will try to force a seventh game.

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