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After eight long years, Yanks back where they belong
NEW YORK – It’s been said that the wins do not hurt as much as the losses do.
Maybe that is the case.
For the last eight years, there has only been that feeling of a loser, not winning the ultimate prize and being forced to start all over again.
But when Shane Victorino’s ground ball found its way into Robinson Cano’s glove, who threw on to first and the ball landed in Mark Teixeira’s glove and the final out was recorded, no longer were the Yankees losers.
They were world champions again.
It had taken 3,294 days, eight seasons and all of the money spent, the New York Yankees finally returned to the pinnacle of the baseball world, finally winning those 11 playoff games that had eluded them.
For others, hearing that eight years is a long time derives looks on anger from fans of other teams who haven’t won in longer spans. The Mets haven’t won in 23 years. The baseball Giants haven’t won in 55 years. The Indians haven’t won in 61 years. Of course, the Chicago Cubs and their 101 years of futility dwarf them all.
However, this is not about those teams. This is about the Yankees and what they play for. Each season brings a mandate of “win or else”. Once you are playing by those rules, nothing else short of winning the championship is acceptable barring unforeseen circumstances.
The Yankees play at the equivalent of the high stakes poker table. Winning is the only objective and failure is not an option. If you lose, you don’t get to walk away from it saying that you gave it the old college try. Instead, the question becomes why did you not get it done?
The Mets, Giants, Indians and Cubs do not play at the same table. For them, simply making the playoffs and winning a few games is acceptable to significant portion of their fan base. Just making the World Series, even if it doesn’t result in eventual victory is regarded as an unmitigated success.
Not for the Yankees.
When you lose at the big table and lose repeatedly at those prices, the years begin to add up. Eight years without winning isn’t the same as another franchise. That eight is another teams 80.
They were given a pass in 2001 because of the incredible drama that they created in that World Series against Arizona. Those game-tying homeruns in Game 4 and Game 5 to put them within a victory of winning for the fourth straight year. Then, to have a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 with the greatest postseason pitcher of generation to close it, you couldn’t ask for anything more.
Losing in 2003 to the Marlins after coming back in Game 7 to defeat the Red Sox was crushing. They had a 2-1 series lead and got a two-run triple in the ninth inning of Game 4 to tie the game and you thought championship 27 was coming. Instead, an injury to David Wells and seeing Josh Beckett shutting down the Yankees in Game 6 ended hopes.
Then there was 2004. 
First round losses followed in each of the next three years, and the old magic was being ripped away. No longer was there a belief that they would win. Instead, you expected something to go wrong. Since going up 3-0 on the Red Sox, the Yankees had won an inconceivable four of 17 playoff games.
This was why when the postseason started this year, there was plenty of trepidation. No longer did it matter that they were the best team in baseball during the regular season, winning 103 games. It didn’t matter that this was the best Yankees team we had seen since the 1998 club that won 125 games.
There was still a feeling of the “unknown”.
When they lost their first playoff game to the Angels in Game 3, the angst rose that they would blow that series despite having a 2-0 lead. In Game 5 when the Yankees came back from 4-0 down in the seventh inning to take the lead only to give it back and eventually lose, it brought memories back to 2004. You just didn’t think they would lose to a team they were clearly superior to.
In the World Series, when they lost Game 5 to the Phillies, the thoughts lingered that with the way manager Joe Girardi has aligned his pitching rotation and starting them all on three days rest. Thus allowing the potent Philadelphia bats to tee off on Andy Pettitte in Game 6 and force an “anything goes” Game 7 with a chance to steal the championship.
Many people believed in this team, but they weren’t true believers, still waiting for the rug to be pulled out.
What many failed to see was the strength and resolve that the team had. This team was an incredibly tough team that never allowed losses to linger.
One loss was never carried to the next day. Each game they would say that and no one wanted to believe them. Most of them were asked about the past and none of them cared about those days because players such as Nick Swisher, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia were not there.
They were looking to write their own story, paint their own picture.
Hideki Matsui’s homerun in the first, two-run single in the third and two-run double in the fifth began the countdown of outs. For years, all one would complain about is how the Yankees could never get the big hit in the playoffs over the last eight years to either win games or break them open.
It was happening. 
It had been happening all postseason. From Alex Rodriguez’s home run barrage to tie and give the Yankees leads in games, to getting clutch outs from the pitching staff. They were making the right play at the right time to win these games.
The Yankees had been playing like this ever since Rodriguez returned to the lineup in May going 90-44. Perhaps most were not realizing it until now. This was a special team to remember for all of us. As the outs continued to dwindle, the 27th championship was all but inevitable.
Rivera stood on the mound with the ball in his hands needing to get three final outs. The Phillies had not hit him the entire postseason. Neither did anyone else and it wasn’t about to begin now. Where all other closers had failed (look it up, the ALL did), there was one man shining above the rest.
When that final out was recorded and the Yankee team stormed out of the dugout, you could see the reactions of numerous players.
Jorge Posada raising his arms to the sky.
Derek Jeter with this traditional pump fist before running toward to ensuing mob.
Alex Rodriguez, now finally a champion, screaming “Yes” to the sky.
Rivera, with a large smile on his face, greeting the rest of his teammates and joining in the largest team hug you will see.
All of them champions once more, or for some, champions for the first time. It was as if they were kids again. You didn’t think about the money spent or the high payroll. Those arguments are for another day.
As they gathered and eventual went to the outfield for a victory lap to celebrate with the fans that had come to see one, you forget about how long it had been since this had happened.
At that moment, all of the games, the travel, the staying up late, the long games, ticket prices, day-to-day drama, past failures and the long wait and everything else associated with being a part of the Yankees all came to a head.
It was all worth it.
It was something to appreciate more because it was then where you realize how difficult winning actually is.
The Yankees found out the hard way. Now, they back on top of the baseball’s Everest.
“Bad AJ” shows up, gives Phillies hope
PHILADELPHIA – Before Monday night’s Game 5, my belief was that if the game were simply within striking distance after six innings, the Yankees would be able to seize on the tenseness the defending world champion Phillies, their fans, and anyone that Manager Charlie Manuel was going to bring into the game whenever Cliff Lee couldn’t throw anymore.
Problem is AJ Burnett did not allow this strategy to develop.
As each Phillies hitter reached base, and eventually scored in the first three innings, the “master plan” blew up.
From the outset of the game, it was clear that Burnett had nothing. Jimmy Rollins had singled to lead off the bottom of the first and then he hit Shane Victorino with a pitch to put him on base. This brought up Chase Utley, who has been using the World Series as his own personal batting practice session. He took Burnett’s first pitch fastball and crushed it into the Philadelphia night in right field for a three-run homer to not only give back the 1-0 lead he was staked to, but now give the Phillies the lead, life and some belief.
Just like in Anaheim two weeks prior, Burnett had problems in the first inning. In Game 5 that night, he gave up four runs before even retiring a batter. At least give him credit for minimizing has past damage. 
Clearly this was another edition in the reality series “Good or bad AJ” and this time the “Bad AJ” showed himself. Obviously, pitching on the road is his kryptonite.
Pitching a scoreless second inning was only window dressing for the third inning when walked the first two hitters and then gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez to extend the lead to 5-1 and that was all Manager Joe Girardi (or any of us) needed to see tonight.
The difference between the way he pitched in Game 2 of the series and Game 5 was unbelievably drastic. 22 of 25 Phillies hitters saw a first pitch strike. He had them on the defensive that night and pitched the best game of Yankee career in the biggest possible situation.
However, there has been a distinct difference in his performance at home and the road not only during the regular season, but also in the playoffs. The percentages were certainly not in his favor coming into this game. Having him take the mound on three days rest simply added to the potential of a complete blowup.
For $82.5 million, this is what the Yankees have gotten. A pitcher that can deliver a brilliant performance and stifle an opposing team, and then what we saw last night.
This is never going to change. He is what he is. The “light bulb” will never go off. He is never going to “find it” consistently as some people held belief of months ago. Burnett likely would have blown up whether he had three days or 30 days rest.
All he had to do was remain competitive and grind the game out. Even if he had given up four runs and stayed in the game he would bought the Yankees time. Cliff Lee was not the unhittable pitcher that he was in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. Because of not having the DH (putting Hideki Matsui on the bench) and Burnett’s need to be psychologically massaged by having Jose Molina behind the plate (thus putting Jorge Posada on the bench), the Yankees were essentially running out a non-competitive lineup. This was as bad a lineup seen since Game 4 of the 1988 World Series when the Los Angeles Dodgers had a lineup of nobodies hitting against Oakland Athletics starter Bob Welch.
Somehow, they won the game.
In the Yankees case, they were being compromised against a good pitcher made worse by the fact that Robinson Cano has been mired in a postseason slump and Brett Gardner was not going to have much of chance getting on base against the Phillies left-hander.
Lee got the game into the eighth inning before the Yankees offense mounted a comeback, scoring two runs off him and three in the frame to cut it to 8-5. In the ninth, with Ryan Madson closing instead of Brad Lidge, the tying run came to the plate with no outs. Derek Jeter hit into a double play and Mark Teixeira eventually struck out to end the game. Though it was a loss, it served notice that the Phillies ability to protect a lead against this team is smaller than an aspirin.
This was why Burnett keeping the game close mattered so much. This was why he pitched did not give the Yankees a chance.
Burn out.
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.
Yankees rally a blast from past
PHILADELPHIA– Here the Yankees were, in a tie game in the top of the ninth inning in Citizens Bank Park, down to their final out and strike.
They had gambled and started CC Sabathia on three days rest and were successful. Joba Chamberlain was one strike away from pitching a dominant eighth inning and preserving a one-run lead before leaving a fastball to Pedro Feliz, a dead fastball hitter, who crushed it to left field to tie the game.
Now, the Yankees were finding themselves in a precarious situation. If they did not score in the ninth, they would go to the bottom half against the top of the Phillies order with Phil Coke and Phil Hughes, which is essence would have been a sure victory. This would have meant an even series, Cliff Lee starting in Game 5, and with the way he has pitched in the postseason, elimination would have been staring them in the face.
Here was Brad Lidge, the Phillies closer who was perfect all of last season, but anything but this season. He blew 11 saves this season and was nothing of a sure thing in this postseason. Lidge had not pitched a game in this series and here he was on the mound trying to keep the game tied and give his team a chance. Facing Hideki Matsui and Derek Jeter, he looked like the closer who was dominant and overpowering the season before, with both hitters not looking to have much of a chance against him. Matsui popped out to short and Jeter struck out swinging as the crowd was in a roar with their white towels waving. 
In stepped Johnny Damon and he quickly feel behind two strikes. The inevitable appeared to be coming. Damon fouled a ball off, and then took two more balls out of the zone to bring the count full and then two more foul balls. Lidge seeming could not put Damon away. On the ninth pitch of the at bat, Damon singled to left center to give the Yankees life.
The at bat was reminiscent of three previous at bats in the Yankees past. Who can forget Wade Boggs drawing the bases loaded walk off Steve Avery in Game 4 in 1996? How about Paul O’Neill working Mets closer Armando Benitez for a 10-pitch one out walk in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series? Lastly, the lengthy at bat Jorge Posada put on Al Leiter in Game 5 of that series after the Mets left-hander had already struck out the first two and was up 0-2 on the count.
The baton was now carried to Mark Teixeira, who outside of his homerun in Game 2, had not shown up in the series. On a 1-0 pitch, Damon took off for second and stole the base. However, with the Phillies defense in an over shift on Teixeira, no one was covering third base. With presence of mind, Damon took off for third and made it there uncontested. It was the most stunning of plays.
With Damon on third, the ability of Lidge (known for his wild pitches) to use his slider was negated. Perhaps he was rattled by was unfolding around him as with the next offering after the stolen base, Teixeira was hit in the side with a pitch. This put runners on the corners with two out and brought Rodriguez to the plate.
It is amazing how a moment can just find you. For Rodriguez, this was it. He made himself known to the playoff world against the Twins and played on another planet against the Angels. He had struggled in the first two games against the Phillies, but in Game 3 completely altered the course of the game when he hit a two-run homer off the FOX camera in right, igniting an eventual five-run rally over two innings to chase Cole Hamels from the game. Here he was again with a chance to further cement has become his season of redemption.
After taking a first pitch fastball for a strike, Lidge tried to go back inside once again, this time Rodriguez was ready for it, hammering it to left for a double giving the Yankees the lead. As he got to second, he clapped both hands in triumphed and pointed at his teammates. They had become a true “team” in every sense this season. You do not come back 54 times this season without having belief in each other that you can do it.
Much like in Game 5 of the Subway Series when Scott Brosius singled to left after Posada drew that walk and Luis Sojo hit a bouncing chopper up the middle for a championship-winning single to make it a three-peat and fourth title in five years. It had all started so innocently that year with a walk.
This year, it was Damon working an old-school classic Yankee at bat. Then stealing second and instinctually going to third. Lidge did his part by hitting Teixeira and then Rodriguez delivered a hit that people will remember forever.
Posada would then deliver a two-run double to left center to extend the lead to 7-4, but even that seemed inevitable. Lidge’s spirit was broken the at bat before and the Phillies team spirit was broken when Posada made it a three-run margin.
Knowing Mariano Rivera was set to pitch the bottom of the ninth, the defending world champions themselves were resigned to their fate. They had not scored off him in this series and trailing by three runs, they were not going to score off him now.
All it took was eight pitches to get those final three outs. It took nine pitches before Damon got the hit to start it all. Now the Yankees, one victory from their 27th world title are on the brink with a 3-1 series lead.
They have played like champions all year. Now, they are 27 defensive outs away from becoming champions.
Yankees get three in ninth, one win away from title
PHILADELPHIA – The champagne is on ice.
It looked as if the Yankees gamble to start CC Sabathia on three days rest was going to backfire as Joba Chamberlain was unable to protect a one-run lead in the eighth inning.
Down to their final strike in the ninth inning, the Yankees reached back into their vault of the late 90’s resourcefulness and pulled out a win that if they go on to win it all, will be remembered in Yankee history forever.
Down to their final strike in the ninth inning of a 4-4 tie, a walk, heads up play on the bases, and a memorable clutch hit to take the lead, a 3-1 series advantage and with a victory in Game 5, can win their first World Series championship since 2000.
The Yankees 7-4 victory over the Phillies in front of 46,145 at Citizens Bank Park was another to be added to the “Yankees Classics” that are likely to be shown during the win if they go on to win it all.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge was entrusted in preserving a 4-4 tie in the top half of the ninth inning. He was able to get the first two outs when Hideki Matsui popped out to shortstop and Derek Jeter struck out swinging. With two outs and no one on, Johnny Damon was down in the count 1-2 before fouling away pitches and eventually working the count foul leading to a single to left center.
On a 1-0 pitch to Mark Teixeira, Damon took off for second and made it sliding feet first. However, with the Phillies playing in an over shift to the right side against the Teixeira, (a known pull hitter) Damon took off for third and made it uncontested with no one covering the bag.
Teixeira was then hit in the side by a Lidge fastball and this brought up Alex Rodriguez. After taking the first pitch for a strike, Rodriguez laced a double to left that scored Damon and gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead.
Jorge Posada would then single home two more runs when he hit another fastball into left center to extend the lead to three runs before Mariano Rivera came in and needed only eight pitches to slam the door.
The game was tied in the ninth because the Yankees bullpen was unable to hold a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Joba Chamberlain was one strike away from pitching a 1-2-3 frame as he struck out the first two hitters before going to a 3-2 count on Pedro Feliz, a deadly fastball hitter. A fastball found the middle of the plate and Feliz took it out to tie the score.
That took what would have been a victory from CC Sabathia, who started on three days rest and pitched into the seventh inning, leaving with a 4-3 lead.
The Yankees gave Sabathia a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jeter singled and Damon doubled to open the game. Teixeira’s groundout to first scored Jeter from third. After Phillies starter Joe Blanton hit Alex Rodriguez, Posada followed with a sacrifice fly to score Damon from third.
Sabathia gave a run back in the bottom of the inning when Chase Utley, who homered twice of Sabathia in Game 1, doubled off the wall in right center, scoring Shane Victorino to cut the lead to 2-1. The next seven in a row would be retired before Ryan Howard singled to center, stole second base and then scored on a base hit to left by Feliz. Damon’s throw was ahead of Howard to the plate, but Howard was able to dislodge the ball out of Posada’s glove, yet as replays would later show, never touched home plate. The Yankees did not argue because the moment the ball went past Posada glove, Sabathia (who was covering the play from behind) threw quickly to second to get out Feliz.
The Yankees would retake the lead in the top half of the fifth when Jeter singled to shallow left to score Nick Swisher (who lead off the inning with a walk) to make it 3-2. An RBI single by Damon scored Melky Cabrera (reached on an infield single) to regain the two run advantage.
Sabathia looked to be on the ropes in the bottom half when the Phillies got the first two runners on to start the inning when Jimmy Rollins singled and Victorino drew a walk. Philadelphia could not take advantage as Utley and Howard each popped out and Jayson Werth struck out to end the inning.
After Utley homered for the third time in the series off Sabathia in the bottom of the seventh, the Yankee left-hander was done for the night. Working on three days rest, he went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and seven hits, walking three and striking out six in 107 pitches.
Damaso Marte, who has impressed in the postseason, struck out Howard to end the seventh and preserved the Yankee lead until the bottom of the eighth when Chamberlain entered.
Monday night, the Yankees will look to wrap up the series in Game 5 with AJ Burnett, starting on three days rest against Cliff Lee, who pitched a complete game against them in Game 1 and has a 3-0 mark with a 0.54 ERA in four postseason starts.
Yanks recapture momentum and have hammer
PHILADELPHIA - It was the final out of the third inning. Phillies starter Cole Hamels had retired the Yankees 9 up and nine down through the first three frames and Andy Pettitte did not appear as if he was going to be long for this game in this park.
The crowd and the pendulum of this series were clearly in the Phillies favor and there did not appear to be anything the Yankees could do about it.
Then in the fourth inning, Mark Teixeira drew a leadoff walk, an alarming sign when you are working with a comfortable margin. Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate, hitless in the series in nine at bats and striking out six of those times. However, here he was up with a chance to inch the Yankees closer in this game.
He got a good swing on Hamels' fastball and drove it to right. Right fielder Jayson Werth was on the run, but could not get to it as the ball initially looked as if it hit off the top of the wall. Runners were going to be at second and third with no one out. Yet, Rodriguez was signaling to the umpire that the ball hit what was to be the camera located just atop the fence in the right field corner.
The umpires convened and then went into the instant replay booth to check. When they came out, they signaled what everyone watching replays at home saw, that it was indeed a home run.
It was now Phillies 3, Yankees 2, but now it was Philadelphia playing on borrowed time, mostly Hamels.
With each at bat thereafter, the Yankees were getting good swings and Hamels' pitches were not finding the plate. He got out of the fourth inning without giving up any more runs, but his clock was ticking towards midnight.
That came the next inning when Nick Swisher got his first hit of the series by hitting a double into the left field corner down the line. Jerry Hairston Jr. replaced Swisher in Game 2, but now welcomed himself to the series.
Andy Pettitte came up. Not much of a hitter obviously, and someone you figured would be an automatic out if he was thrown three fastballs. Instead, Hamels throws him a curveball that hangs in the strike zone and Pettitte puts bat on ball and loops a shallow fly into centerfield for a base hit to tie the game.
Derek Jeter's fly ball landed in front of Shane Victorino for another hit, and then Johnny Damon ripped a double into the gap in right center to score both runs.
Yankees 5, Phillies 3.
Momentum is a funny thing. You can have it in one moment and it can be taken away from you instantly. Hamels and the Phillies had and in a blink, saw it taken right from them.
It was obvious that Hamels did not want anymore of this game. He had mentally checked out for the night. Using the word "quit" is a harsh word to use to describe an athlete's performance, but what else can you say?
The Yankees did not care. They had the game in control.
In the sixth, Nick Swisher continued his revival by crushing J.A Happ’s fastball into the left field seats to extend the lead to three. Now the Yankees had silenced the crowd in Philadelphia known for their crude and obnoxious behavior.
Pettitte was rebounding from a shaky start to his outing and was eating every lefty Phillies hitter in the lineup for lunch. Only Werth was able to get good swings on him, hitting a home run in the second and again in the sixth. Pettitte may not have pitched his best game of the postseason, but he was more than effective. He limited the damage and left with a 6-4 lead.
The Yankees had effectively gotten into the underbelly of the Phillies bullpen when they got Hamels out in the fifth inning. They had tacked on a run in the sixth and there was no stopping them now against anyone else coming to the mound. Jorge Posada would single home a run and Hideki Matsui would redirect a pitch to the opposite field for a pinch-hit home run to extend the margin to four and lock up a victory and two games to one World Series lead.
While momentum may be the next days starting pitcher, the Yankees have the Phillies on the run. With Joe Blanton taking the ball against CC Sabathia in Game 4, the clear advantage goes to New York.
In these series, the pendulum can change quickly. The Phillies had it after Game 1. The Yankees have it now.
Yanks unleash on Hamels, Pettitte holds on to take 2-1 lead
PHILADELPHIA – The Yankees offense has not been the same Murderers Row that has been in the regular season, but trailing by three runs after three innings, they had no other choice but to hit.
Otherwise, the Phillies were going to knock them out.
As they have all season, the Yankees picked themselves off the mat and struck back with a vengeance, pulling out an 8-5 victory in Game 3 of the World Series in front of 46,061 at Citizens Bank Park.
It was a game that saw them struggling early, finding their grove in the middle and tacking on runs later as they were able to eliminate Cole Hamels and several members of the Phillies bullpen.
Early on, it did not look promising for the Bombers as the Phillies scored three runs off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte. Jayson Werth led off the bottom of the second with a sold homerun to left. After a double to Pedro Feliz, and a walk to Carlos Ruiz, Hamels laid down a bunt in front of the plate that was fielded by neither Pettitte nor Jorge Posada to load the bases.
Jimmy Rollins drew a bases loaded walk and Shane Victorino hit a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 3-0 advantage as Pettitte struggled with him control in the inning, needing 31 pitches and throw a first pitch ball to six of the eight hitters.
Hamels held the Yankees hitless through the first three innings, but that would end in the fourth. Mark Teixeira drew a one out walk and Alex Rodriguez drove a pitch initially looked to be off the top of the wall in right for what was ruled a double. However, the umpires convened to discuss the play and elected to use instant replay to review the call. Camera angles showed that the ball hit the camera located hanging slightly over the wall in right. The call was overturned and the umpires ruled in favor of a homerun that the deficit to 3-2.
The Yankees would take the lead in the fifth and eventually chase Hamels from the game. Nick Swisher got his first hit of the series by doubling down the left field line, and after Melky Cabrera struck out, Hamels hung a curveball that Pettitte was able to flare into center for an run-scoring single to tie the game. After Jeter singled to center on a ball not scooped by Victorino, Johnny Damon drilled a two-run double into the gap in right center to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead.
Out came Manager Charlie Manuel from the dugout and Hamels’ night was over. His postseason struggles continued again, this time going only 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and five hits, walking two and striking out three.
Pettitte, who had struggled in the first two innings, began to settle in. He clearly did not the same stuff as he had in the pennant clinching Game 6 against the Angels, but using intelligence and guile was battling his way through it.
In the sixth, each team traded runs. Swisher crushed a 2-2 fastball from J.A Happ into the left field seats for homerun to make it 6-3. The Phillies got the run back when Werth hit his second homerun of the night. It was the first hit off Pettitte since the second inning.
The final out of the inning came when pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett flied out to right, it was the end of Pettitte’s night, going six innings, giving up four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out seven.
Tack on runs would continue in the seventh and the eighth as Posada singled to left to bring home Damon to increase the lead to three. In the eighth, pinch hitter Hideki Matsui redirected a Brett Myers fastball to left field for a homerun for an 8-4 margin.
Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte pitched scoreless innings and both the seventh and eighth innings. Phil Hughes gave up a one out homerun to Carlos Ruiz and Manager Joe Girardi elected not to take any chances, coming to the mound and bringing in Mariano Rivera, despite throwing 39 pitches in Game 2 on Thursday.
Rivera needed only five pitches to record the final two outs, the last one when Rollins popped out to Rodriguez to end the game.
With a 2-1 lead, the Yankees are two wins away from a championship. They will look to take a 3-1 advantage with CC Sabathia on three days going up against Joe Blanton for Philadelphia.
