Post-game wrap up
The Phillies recieved a magnificent outing from Cliff Lee. The lefty dominated on the mound and made a nice behind-the-back grab which just showed it was that kind of night for him. If I was an Indians fan (which I'm not), his outing tonight would be tough to swallow. His complete-game effort was pure dominance. Recording 10 strikeouts against Jeter, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Posada, Matsui and Swisher was the type of outing the defending World Series Champions needed. This dominant win should give the Philies a great amount of confidence heading into Game 2. Anytime a team gets a win on the road it's a great feat, but to do it in the type of fashion the Phillies did was impressive.
As for the Yankees, CC Sabathia surrendered four hits, but unfortunately for him two of the hits were home runs. Sabathia didn't have the type of consistency the Yankees needed. While he recorded six strikeouts in seven innings he issued three walks and was forced to go deep into counts all night long. In order for the Yankees to come back tomorrow night and tie up the series they need a much better offensive performance from A-Rod. The clean up hitter struck out a team-high three times and hit into a double play. In order for the Yankees to regain home field advantage they need more production from the offense, need to cut down on the strikeouts and need to recieve a strong outing from Thursday's starter A.J. Burnett. If the Yankees can't get the win tomorrow night it's going to be very tough for them to even up the series and Train just may end up with another look of disgust on his face.
It's been fun folks! Be sure to follow the blog tomorrow night at 8 p.m. as Pedro Martinez faces off against A.J. Burnett.
********
Bottom 9th
The Yankees are down to their final three outs and face a six-run deficit.
Lee remains in the game for the Phillies. What a night for the 31-year-old.
Jeter- singles to center beyond the grasp of a sliding Shane Victorino. Despite the team's struggles tonight, Jeter has played well. The shortstop has gone 3-for-4 with two singles and a double.
Damon- singles to RF. Runners on first and second with no outs.
Teixeira- Madson is warming up for the Phillies. Teixeira hits the ball to Utley who gets Damon out at second. Rollins is then charged with a throwing error when the ball sails over Howard's head. Jeter scores to end the Phillies' hope of a shut out. 1 out.
Phillies 6- Yankees 1
Rodriguez- strikes out swinging as Lee records his ninth strikeout of the game. 2 outs.
Posada- The Yankees are down to their final out as Lee looks to close out the game. Posada strikeouts to end the game. Lee notches 10 K's while only surrendering six hits and giving up zero unearned runs.
Final:
Phillies 6 vs. Yankees 1
**********
Top 9th
Brian Bruney steps on the mound for the Yankees.
Feliz- pops up to the right side of the infield. Train is turning into quite the pessimist. Four hours ago he was looking forward to a parade and bragging rights, now he's one angry individual.
Ruiz- doubles to CF with 1 out. Great speed displayed by the catcher as he records a stand up double.
Rollins- singles on a bloop hit toward A-Rod. Runners on the corners with one out.
Victorino- singles to right field as the Phillies add another run, making it a 5-0 game.
Train is pacing around the office and just called Yankees manager Joe Girardi a "bum" and said this game makes him "want to puke." Well then.
Utley- There's a giggle fit going on in the office as Train is frusturated beyond words. Utley flies out to CF. Runners on the corners with 2 outs.
Train, who refrains from alcohol consumption said this game may drive him to hit the bottle. Don't worry he is of legal age.
Howard- doubles to RF as the Phillies add another run before Victorino gets tagged out at the plate. Victorino was grining from ear-to-ear as he came toward home while Train had his head in his hands with a look of disgust.
Phillies 6-0
*******
Bottom 8th
Cano- Lee remains in the game for the Phillies and what a gem the lety has turned in tonight. Lee's got everything working for him as he uses his 99th pitch to retire Cano on what was a beautiful, behind the back stop. The lefty has made plays look effortless tonight as he cought a pop up without moving earlier in the game and now makes one heck of a stop.
Swisher- strikes out looking. It's Lee's eighth strikeout of the night and wow what an acquisition Lee has turned out to be.
Cabrera- flies out to CF. What can't Lee do tonight? I predict he pulls a rabbit out of his hat next!
Phillies 4-0
*****
Top 8th
Phil Hughes enters the game in relief of Sabathia.
Rollins- Train is getting agitated as the Yankees turn to their bullpen. And rightfully so as J-Roll unleashes a ball that went high and foul into the wet, N.Y. sky. Rollins walks.
Victorino- So I'm taking notice of what looks like an empty, broken coffee pot sitting right across from me. What I would do for some caffeine right now is beyond words. 3-0 count for Victorino. Rollins gets a nice jump and steals second base while Victorino takes the strike. Hughes issues a walk to Victorino as well.
Utley- Damaso Marte comes in to relieve Hughes and Train's hopes have been all but crushed. Train says it will be 5-0 very soon as he has no faith in the lefty. Well, Marte retires Utley with a wicked curveball as Train has hope. 1 out.
Howard- flies out to RF as Rollins tags and makes it to third easily. Marte now leaves the game and is replaced by RHP David Robertson.
Werth- BB, bases loaded with two outs. If the Philies can get some insurance runs here it will make a Yankee comeback very tough.
Another plug for the Favre return to Green Bay. Oh FOX, don't you know this is a very sensitive subject for me?
Ibanez-- singles past Teixeira as the Phillies add two insurance runs. As the Phillies fans rejoice and give eachother high fives Train is very angered with the Yankees bullpen.
4-0 Phillies, 2 outs.
Francisco- A-Rod makes a nice stop on a ball hit to his right to retire Francisco.
Phillies 4-0
******
Bottom 7th
Rodriguez- grounds out to Feliz who keeps A-Rod hitless.
Posada- check swings as the ball dribbles back to Lee who tags him out.
Matsui- grounds out to Feliz to end the inning. The Yankees are down to six outs if they want to try and make a comeback. It should be interesting to see if Sabathia stays in the game, but my guess is they'll look for help coming from the bullpen.
2-0 Phillies
*****
Top 7th
Francisco- walks. Sabathia issues his third walk of the game.
Feliz- grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
Ruiz- It's getting pretty quiet around as we're relying on the ginger, who claims she's the world's favorite ginger, to keep us awake. Good thing she had plenty of Sour Skittles at the volleyball match or else I may be asleep. Ruiz grounds out to Rodriguez to end the inning.
I'm looking forward to the seventh inning stretch so I can take a nice, long lap around the office.
2-0 Phillies
*****
Bottom 6th
Cabrera-flies out to RF as rain continues to fall in N.Y. Train admits to starting to feel a little nervous about the Yankees chances.
Jeter-singles up the middle, recording his second hit of the night. Jeter has been one of only three Yankees who have hit off of Lee tonight.
Damon- across the wall the women's volleyball writers are hard at work. Bill "Wild Bill" Landis and Minnesota's favorite ginger, Jocelyn Syrstad, continue to work dispite this highly anticipated game. Damon pops up tp Lee who casually sticks his glove out and makes the catch. What a confident play by Lee who didn't move his feet as he caught the ball right around his belt. 2 outs.
Teixeira- grounds out to Utley who retires Jeter at second. Lee and company keep the Yanks scoreless as we head to the top of the 7th.
2-0 Phillies
*****
Top 6th
Victorino- While Victorino flies out to CF talk in the office has turned to Halloween Costumes. Rung admits he's too cheap to buy a real costume so he's going as a GIANT worker. Gentile already told Train he doesn't need a costume to go as an upset Yankees fan. It's getting pretty hostile in here.
Utley- unleashes a home run once again over the right field wall. Utley unloaded on this pitch and there was no doubt that as soon as it left his bat the ball was leaving the park. 2-0 Phillies. Utley's homer, his second of the night, was good enough for Copain to admit that it was a nice shot. Watchig the replay of Sabathia's pitch on FOX's nifty replay camera shows that Sabathia left the ball right over the heart of the plate. I guarantee he wishes he had that one back. Out of Sabathia's three hits given up tonight, two of them were homers by Utley.
Howard- strikes out, Sabathia's fifth of the night.
Werth- singles beyond the outstretched glove of Cano. 2 outs. Soccer reoprter Brendan Monahan is still here working on a game story. What dedication from one of the quietest kids on staff. However, even Utley's homer was good enough to earn a few words from Monahan. Now that's saying something.
Ibanez- strikes out and Monahan said Ibanez's feet are moving way too much in the box and I couldn't agree more. Ibanez isn't looking too conftorable at the plate.
2-0 Phillies
****
Bottom 5th
Matsui- singles up the middle to record the Yankees thrid hit of the night. The crack of the bat was loud enough to make Skalina stop playing his game of virtual beer pong on his phone and turn his attention to the screen.
Cano- All of us here on the sports staff would like to thak FOX for pointing out that both teams have won seven games to get to the World Series. My question ... how the heck else would you get to the World Series without winning seven games? Cano lines out and gets Matsui out at first as well. Double play for the Phillies. After much conversation bewteen the umpires, it's confirmed that it is indeed a double play. 2 outs.
Swisher- pops up to RF to end the inning.
While the game has been pretty dull on the hitting front, Lee continues to turn in another solid post-season performance.
1-0 Phillies
****
Top 5th
Feliz- While the Fox staff continues to hype the Packers vs. Vikings game this weekend, I wish they would remember there is still a baseball game going on. I understand you need to plug your company, but as a Packer fan if I hear the F word one more time (Favre that is) I may break the monitor of this ancient computer I'm working on. Feliz strikes out. 1 out
Ruiz- rain is once again falling in N.Y. I guess it's a good thing Gentile isn't planning on majoring in meterology. Despite the rain, Jeter makes the throw across the diamond to retire Ruiz. 2 outs.
Rollins- So far my favorite comment of the night comes from copy editor Dave Rung. Rung said it's okay that Gentile's predicted 20-minute rain shower has started up once again. Afterall, Rung said being a meterologist is similiar to the job of a sportsbroadcaster. You get to say whatever you want and still get a hefty paycheck. Nice observation Rung. Rollins pops out to end the inning.
Phillies 1-0
*****
Bottom 4th
Teixeira- while the sports staff continues to piece their pages together, Lee has no problem fanning Teixeira, recording his fifth strikeout of the game.
Rodriguez- Train seems to have shifted his focus to the discussion of soccer as A-Rod works the count full. Much to the pleasure of Phillies fans, and Train's dismay, Lee gets A-Rod to swing at strike three. 2 outs.
Posada- Word around the office is that Phillies fans are liking the playoff beard that Ryan Howard is sporting. Maybe sports chief Dave Miniaci should look at Howard to learn how to properly grow a beard. Lee records strikeout number seven to close out the inning.
Phillies 1-0
****
Top 4th
Werth- Looks like the rain has let up in N.Y. as Gentile's weather report proved to be correct. Strikes out swinging on a pitch in the dirt. 1 out.
Ibanez- another check swing for Ibanez, his second of the night. 2-2 count as Ibanez looks at strike three. 2 outs.
Francisco- flies out to CF to end the inning. Sabathia appears to be getting into a rhythm as he recorded his third strikeout of the game, two of which came in this inning.
1-0 Phillies
****
Bottom 3rd
Swisher- pops up to Howard. The ball hung in the air for quite some time as Swisher was rounding first when Howard made the catch.
Cabrera- 1-2 count, Cabrera flies out to Utley who make the catch in shallow right field. 2 outs.
Jeter- doubles down the right field line with 2 outs. It's now the second time through the lineup for the Yankees and Phillies fans have to wonder how the Yanks will adjust to Lee's pitching.
Damon- grounds to Feliz who throws it across the diamond to Howard. The first baseman makes a nice play picking the ball out of the dirt. The Yankees leave Jeter stranded as we head to the fourth inning.
1-0 Phillies
*****
Top 3rd
Rollins- the Phillies return to the top of the order and this time J-Roll shows more patience at the plate working the count full before flying out to Cabrera on the warning track. 1 out
Victorino- after Victorino launched a foul ball into the LF seats he grounds out to Jeter. 2 outs
Utley- 2-2 count, Sabathia's pitch continues to rise as Utley continues to foul off pitches. Sabathia has thrown 54 pitches already and his 55th pitch gets sent over the RF wall. Home run Utley. Men's soccer writer Ben Skalina did call Utley's shot as he said he'd love to see Utley hit one into the RF bleachers. Well, Skalina did get his wish as the Phillies fans jump up and rejoice while Train tells them it's not over yet.
1-0 Phillies
Howard- strikes out to end the inning.
Behind Utley's homer the Phillies score the first run of the game taking a 1-0 lead over the Yankees.
****
Bottom 2nd
Rodriguez- 0-2 count, rain starts to fall in N.Y. as Train jokes that it may be necessary to pull out the tarp. A-Rod goes down swinging as Lee contines to tear through the Yankees lineup.
Posada- 3-1 count, bloops a single into RF to get the Yankees their first hit of the game. Rain appears to be falling harder in N.Y., but according to copy desk editor Eddie Gentile rain is expected to move out within 20 minutes. We refuse to accept the fact that it's raining and want to blame it on the poor reception coming from our 15-inch TV.
Matsui- strikes out as Lee records his fourth strikeout of the game, 2 outs with Posada on first base
Cano- flies out to end the inning as the Yankees leave a runner stranded on first.
I wish I had a score to report, but still notted up at zero after two complete innings.
*****
Top 2nd
Among all of the cheering, shouting and screaming coming from the sports portion of the office the paper is still being created. Pages are being designed while Monahan follows the Penn State soccer game on the computer. Just because there's a game going on isn't enough of an excuse to stop the sports staff from working. If you think it's a good enough excuse ... You're Wrong!
Back to the game
Francisco- 3-2 count, grounds out to A-Rod. 1 out
Feliz-grounds out. 2 outs
With two outs Copain is so happy he said he could "click his heels if he wanted to." I really hope I don't have to witness the heel click.
Ruiz- grounds out, 3 outs
Still scoreless heading into the bottom of the second inning
******
Bottom 1st
Jeter- It's starting to get pretty heated down here in the basement as the Phillies and well the Yankee fan are arguing over the finanes of the Yanks. After a strikeout from Jeter things are happy on the Phillies front.
Damon-tries to bunt, only to have the ball go right back to Lee. So far we've seen Rollins and Damon both attempt bunts with each player having no success. 2 outs
Teixeira-k swinging.
Lee fans two as the Yanks fail to record a hit in the bottom of the first inning
Still scoreless after one inning
******
Top 1st
Rollins- I appreciate the aggressiveness of Rollins, but wow, patience is sometimes a good thing. Taking the first pitch makes me believe Rollins is a little excited to get things underway. What good is a leadoff hitter if he can't get on base? Rollins grounds out to Teixeira
Victorino-out to Cano
Utley-BB While the Phillies fans cheer for Utley's discipline at the plate, Copain aka Train couldn't help but put down his Subway sandwich and yell, "Come On!"
Howard-lines the ball over the head of Teixeira and legs out a double. Utley moves to third. 2 outs
Werth-3-1 cout, Sabathia is throwing all over the place right now and if you're a Yankees fan you must be hoping Sabathia can keep his poise and get out of this inning. 3-2 count, BB. Bases loaded for the Phillies as Sabathia misses the outside part of th plate.
Ibanez-3-1 count. Men's soccer reporter Brendan Monahan said before the at bat started that if Sabathia walked Ibanez he would laugh out loud. Well, it didn't happen as Ibanez grounded out.
We're scoreless after the top of the first inning
******
With the first pitch almost underway I'm trying to distance myself from the flock of Phillies fans in the office. However, Icers reporter Tom Copain is still pulling hard for the Yankees, although what team doesn't Copain like?
*********
Starting lineups
Yankees
SS Derek Jeter
LF Johnny Damon
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
C Jorge Posada
DH Hideki Matsui
2B Robinson Cano
RF Nick Swisher
CF Melky Cabrera
P CC Sabathia
Phillies
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RFJayson Werth
DH Raul Ibanez
LF Ben Francisco
3B Pedro Feliz
C Carlos Ruiz
P Cliff Lee
******
We're just 17 minutes away from the scheduled first pitch.
More pregame action to follow
Cliff Lee takes the mound for the defending World Series Champion Phillies. In his last appearance, which came on October 18th against the Dodgers, he turned in eight strong innings, while surrendering zero earned runs.
CC Sabathia also had a strong showing his last time out. Just eight days ago Sabathia surrendered one earned run in the Yankees' win over the Los Angeles Angels.
*******
Good evening everybody! It's Audrey Snyder, the field hockey and Lady Lions reporter, here to take you through Game 1 of the World Series. Let me just get this right out in the open ... I don't care who wins this series. As a diehard Atlanta Braves fan I consider myself an equal hater of both the Phillies and the Yankees. Regardless of my disgust toward the Braves missing out on another postseason, I'm still looking forward to watching some good baseball tonight.
As I sit here in the cozy confines of the Collegian office, better known as a glorified basement with tons of crazy college students, I can't help but get excited for the action.
Leave a comment