(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
INSIDER:
Gutty, gritty performance by the Yankees tonight as they fought their way back from a 3-0 deficit to win and take a 2-1 lead in the series. That long hour and 20 minute delay that didn't make things look good at first but the Yanks over came the rain.
ON THE MOUND:
Andy Pettitte got into some serious trouble in the bottom half of the second. Jayson Werth led off the inning with a solo homer to left to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Following a strikeout of Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz doubled and Carlos Ruiz walked putting runners on first and second and the pitcher coming to bat. Hamels laid down a nice bunt, neither Pettitte nor Jorge Posada fielded it, and the Phils had the bases loaded with one out and the top of the order coming up. Jimmy Rollins then walked to drive in a run and it looked like Pettitte was headed for a short outing.
Pettitte then got Shane Victorino to hit a sac-fly and struck out Chase Utley to end the inning. The lead was now 3-0, but Andy was just one out from getting out of the jam without letting the game get away from him.
Pettitte had settled down and put up another zero in the bottom of the fourth.
After being handed the lead the most important thing a pitcher can do is put up a zero. This wasn't going to be easy for Pettitte with Shane Victorino, Utley, and Howard coming up. But he was able to retire them.
Pettitte would last one more inning before leaving the game after six. He did give up another solo homer to Werth, a long blast off the second deck in left. This start for Pettitte was certainly a battle; he fell behind most hitters on the night, threw just 56% of his pitches for strikes, and no command of his curve, and had his defense betray him twice as both were caused by A-Rod. In the end he allowed four earned runs on five hits, walked three, and struck out seven on his way to his MLB best 17th postseason win. After the game Pettitte said he couldn't remember winning a game where he struggled like he did tonight.
Damaso Marte and Joba Chamberlain did great jobs in relief. Chamberlain came in for the seventh and retired Jimmy Rollins, Victorino, and Utley in order on just nine pitches. Then Marte pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, getting Howard, Werth, and Ibanez. In six games Marte has thrown three innings, allowing no runs on two hits, walked none, and struck out three. His slider looks to be much improved.
Joe Girardi went with Phil Hughes in the ninth trying to give Mo a rest. He struggled though. After getting Pedro Feliz to ground out to start the inning, he gave up a solo shot to Carlos Ruiz and Joe had seen enough. Mo came in and five pitches later the Yankees had the lead in the series. Jimmy "I think we figured Mo out" Rollins popped out weakly to third to end the game.
Victornio, Utley and Howard combined to go 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts. With Rollins their 1-4 hitters went a combined 1-for-16.
THE OFFENSE:
After a scoreless fourth the Yankees finally got to Hamels. Mark Teixeira walked with one out, and Alex Rodriguez followed with his first hit of the World Series, a two-run homer off a TV camera in right. At first the play was ruled a double, but after the umpires reviewed the replay they correctly called it a homer. It was A-Rod's sixth of the postseason tying him with Bernie Williams for most home runs in a single postseason. More importantly it got the Yankees, who now trailed by just one, back in the game.
Pettitte would then come through with a big hit in the next half inning. Nick Swisher led off with a double. Melky Cabrera then struck out bringing Pettitte to the plate. Many people, expected a bunt, but Joe Girardi had Pettitte swing away and it paid off. Pettitte blooped a first-pitch curveball into left-center and the game was tied. Derek Jeter then singled, another bloop, and Johnny Damon lined a two-run double into the gap in right-center and the Yanks now led 5-3. Hammels would then walk Teixeira before leaving the game to a chorus of boos by Philly fans.
The Yankees would tack on two more runs: a Jorge Posada RBI single in the seventh and a pinch-hit solo homer by Hideki Matsui in the eighth.
Seven different Yankees picked up hits, Swisher got two including a homer after being ghost all October, Damon got a big hit, A-Rod picked up his first World Series hit, and the Yanks finally got some decent relief pitching. The Yankees now find themselves up 2-1 with CC Sabathia on the mound tomorrow. Joe Blanton, who has a career 8.18 ERA against the Yankees, will get the ball for the Phillies. First pitch is set for 8:20 p.m.
THE BOX SCORE:
ABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVGJeter, SS5110010.385Damon, LF4112100.167Teixeira, 1B3100221.100Rodriguez, A, 3B2112102.100Posada, C5011004.300Cano, 2B4000023.091Swisher, RF4221001.286Gardner, CF0000000.000Cabrera, Me, CF-RF4000021.100Pettitte, P3111010.333Chamberlain, P0000000.000a-Matsui, H, PH1111000.571Marte, D, P0000000.000Hughes, P, P0000000.000Rivera, Ma, P0000000.000Totals358884812
a-Homered for Chamberlain in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Swisher (1, Hamels), Damon (1, Hamels).
HR: Rodriguez, A (1, 4th inning off Hamels, 1 on, 1 out), Swisher (1, 6th inning off Happ, 0 on, 1 out), Matsui, H (2, 8th inning off Myers, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Jeter; Damon 2; Rodriguez, A 4; Posada; Swisher 6; Pettitte; Matsui, H 4.
RBI: Rodriguez, A 2 (2), Pettitte (1), Damon 2 (2), Swisher (1), Posada (2), Matsui, H (2).
2-out RBI: Posada; Matsui, H.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada; Cano.
Team RISP: 3-for-7.
Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING
SB: Damon (1, 2nd base off Durbin, C/Ruiz).
FIELDING
E: Rodriguez, A (1, throw).
IPHRERBBSOHRERAPettitte (W, 1-0)6.05443726.00Chamberlain (H, 1)1.00000000.00Marte, D1.00000200.00Hughes, P0.111100181.00Rivera, Ma0.20000000.00
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 104-59, Chamberlain 9-5, Marte, D 15-13, Hughes, P 8-5, Rivera, Ma 5-4.
PHILLIES STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Andy Pettitte
Game 4
Yankees @ PhilliesGame Time: 8:20 p.m. TV/Radio: FOX, WCBSLHP CC Sabathia (3-1, 1.52) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66)
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