Chase Utley powers Phillies to Game Six

Cliff Lee not spectacular but good enough for a win

If the season relied on one at-bat, who else would the Phillies want up besides Chase Utley? Right now the answer is probably nobody.

Utley smacked two home runs but his first inning three run blast set the tone for the game as the Phillies kept the Yankees from celebrating a 27th world championship at Citizens Bank Park. With an 8-6 victory in game five, the World Series now shifts back to New York and Yankees Stadium. the Phillies of course still have their backs to the wall and are one loss away from losing the World Series.

But all that mattered last night was game five. Games six and seven are not worth discussing until after game five. Cliff Lee took the mound so the Phillies had good reason to feel confident in extending the postseason for another game. Lee had entered the game with a 3-0 record and an ERA below one in this year's postseason. While Lee was not as on target with his location as he has shown in previous outings, he stayed in long enough to get the job done.

A sense of doom invaded the park early though as the Yankees stunned the Phillies fans by picking up a quick 1-0 lead on Lee. Alex Rodriguez hit a double to score Johnny Damon with two outs and two strikes. Lee followed by walking Nick Swisher but he got out of the inning by getting Robinson Cano to fly out.

Then it was the Phillies' chance to respond.

Jimmy Rollins started the bottom of the first with a line single up the middle right past Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. Shane Victorino looked to attempt a bunt to move Rollins up a base, but Burnett's pitch hit Victorino right on his right hand. Victorino was awarded first base after it was decided that he did not offer the bunt, but Victorino's hand would be an issue as the game progressed. Utley, the man of the night, would back up his beaned teammate by belting a three run home run on the very first pitch he saw from Burnett. The three run homer gave the Phillies the lead and they would not give it up the entire night, despite some scares by the Yankees.

The Phillies would push their lead to 6-1 in the third inning, chasing Burnett in the process. Go figure that Utley started the inning by drawing a walk. He then stole second on Burnett. Ryan Howard then walked to put runners on first and second for Jayson Werth who singled to center and scored Utley to make it 4-1. Raul Ibanez joined the party with a single of his own to score Howard and that would be all for Burnett. Carlos Ruiz grounded into a fielder's choice but Werth scored on the play to make it 6-1. All six runs were charged to Burnett. To add insult to injury, Cliff Lee picked up a single before the inning was over, although no runs scored on the hit.

The Yankees would chip away at the Phillies lead, scoring a run in the fifth inning. After Utley and Ibanez each hit solo home runs in the seventh inning the Yankees put a bit of a scare into the Phillies and their fans in the eighth inning.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made a decision to take Victorino out of the game, a move which certainly was made to rest a possibly injured Victorino. Ben Francisco, who usually replaces Ibanez in left field, went out to take over in center field, although Victorino was surprised by the decision as it was made. Victorino clearly was confused as nobody told him initially of the switch. The move would be questioned, much like Danny Ozark's decision to leave Greg Luzinski in left field years ago.

With Ibanez patrolling left field a big hit from Rodriguez scored two runs, leaving fans to wonder whether or not Francisco would have had the ball coming from left field. The double cut the Phillies' lead to 8-4 and the Yankees would score one more run in the inning. Before the inning was over Manuel also relieved Lee of his duties on the mound as he had pitched over 100 pitches. After the game Lee said he would be ready to pitch again whenever he is asked to come in.

Ryan Madson was called on to pick up the save in the ninth inning as the Phillies were clinging to a three run lead. A night after Brad Lidge had allowed three runs in a non-save situation Madson flirted with another disaster, but recovered. Jorge Posada lead off the ninth with a double and moved to third base on a single by Hideki Matsui. with runners at the corners and nobody out, Derek Jeter stepped to the plate. Jeter had been having a terrific series but in his last at-bat in game five he grounded into a costly double play. Posada scored to make it a two run game, but the double play cleared the bases. Damon quickly got on base though with a single and moved to second on defensive indifference. Mark Teixeira then struck out to end the ball game, handing the Phillies a most critical victory.

X-rays on Victorino's hand showed no fractures, but it was clear that he had a tough time gripping the bat as he winced in pain when he made contact and was seen shaking his hand numerous times on camera between plays. With a maximum of two games remaining in the season I would expect Victorino to tough it out.

Game six will take place Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium. Pedro Martinez was announced as the starter for the Phillies by Manuel in his post-game press conference. The Yankees will rely on Andy Pettitte who will be on three days rest.