Final Thoughts
Well that was definitely another thriller. This truly has been a great postseason and great series, as I expected. I picked the Phillies in six originally, but now I'm going to choose the Yankees in six with Chase Utley being the MVP. Pettite vs. Pedro (or Happ) is bound to be a good matchup, but I think the Yanks will win it in the end because of the energy and intensity at their palace.
However, if the Yankees lose in game six, the Phils will win it in seven. Cliff Lee will come in for relief and the Phils will win at Yankee Stadium. Game 6 is basically a must-win for New York. They can't allow Philly to come back mentally, even though they are on their way.
You have seen the last of Brad Lidge this postseason.
Enjoy Utley this series, because he is putting on one of the best playoff performances ever. Equally exciting has been Ozzie Guillen, the most entertaining coach in sports, who has been a joy to watch and listen to.
It's been fun keeping you posted on a very exciting game. Have a great night, don't forget to folllow the Nittany Lion field hockey team and enjoy the rest of the World Series.
****
Top of the Ninth
Ryan Madson is in. Good choice Charlie. Myers is getting loose in the pen just to give the Phils some insurance. Posada doubles on a deep hit off the top of the wall. Hideki Matsui pinch hits for the pitcher's spot. Godzilla comes through with a single, moving Posada to third. What now Charlie?
Jeter comes up to represent the tying run. The Phils try to console their pitcher who is clearly shaken up. Yankee fans suddenly see life and believe as their captain takes a 2-1 count. All I think about when I see him is Minka Kelly. Clearly, Jeter was thinking of her as well as the captain hits a grounder to short. The Phils turn two but give up a run.
Phillies 8, Yankees 6
The "Idiot" falls behind 0-2 and fouls a ball off a checkswing. With the possible game-ending pitch coming, Fox shows the view from the sky. Nothing but the best from Fox (still better than TBS.) Damon battles back to 2-2. Everybody in the office is having deja vu of last night. I'm still thinking about Minka Kelly.
Damon singles up the middle. Mark Teixeria, the Yankees big (well, one of their big) investments in the off-season is the tying-run. Damon stole second, but none of the Phillies cared. Madson strikes out Tex to finish the game and send the Series back to New York.
More to come...
FINAL: Phillies 8, Yankees 6
****
Bottom of the Eighth
Ruiz singles to bring up Matt Stairs, another former Royal I've seen more in blue and white than red. Stairs grounds into a double play, bringing Phillie fans to question who is about to come pitch. J-Roll steps in looking for his third hit. Madson is getting loose as Rollins grounds out to Cano.
Phils 8, Yanks 5
Top of the Eighth
And Lee is still in the game. He's a monster, sports night chief Dan Roarabaugh said. Though true, and though I'm an optimist, Charlie's gotta pull him. Even Brad Lidge can't blow this. Pul Lee and save him for game seven.
Rollins bobbles a Damon grounder and the self-identified "Idiot" is safe at first. Tex doubles, moving Damon to third. Now it's time to pull Lee because he's losing it.
A-Rod doubles to drive in both runners on a deep flyball that Ibanez dove to make but simply missed the ball. Manuel finally pulls Lee after 112 pitches.
Phils 8, Yanks 4
Lee's line score is 7 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Chan Ho Park comes in with six outs to win the game. Park keeps Swisher hitless for out No. 1. Cano pops out to shallow center, but the throw was to the right of the plate, allowing A-Rod to score.
Phillies 8, Yankees 5
Chan Ho gets Gardner to pop out to short to get out of the inning. With an inning left, the question is the same it has been all postseason: Does Manuel give Lidge the ball? I say give it to Madson, but I think John Fox is a good football coach, so what do I know.
Phillies 8, Yankees 5
****
Bottom of the Seventh
For the seventh inning stretch, I just wanted to let you know about this week in field hockey. Penn State takes on No. 13 Ohio State Thursday in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes played an overtime thriller that ended in a Penn State upset 2-1, and Thursday's game is poised to be just as exciting. My partners, Audrey Snyder and Ryan Loy, and I will post a preview video by Wednesday night, so stay tuned to the Collegian's website.
Back to the World Series, Phil Coke relieves Aceves for New York. Utley jacks a long foul ball on full count. It's no wonder Mac is in love with him. He ends up hitting a homer to center to tie Reggie Jackson for World Series homeruns in a single series.
Phillies 7, Yanks 2
Ryan Howard of Dunder Mifflin is clearly trying to match his teammate, but he pulls a Howard and strikes out to tie the record for the most strikeouts in a World Series. Keep in mind for both records, this is game five.
Werth flies out to center for the second out of the game. Ibanez drives a homer to right field. The office erupts with joy. You wouldn't know they are still down 3-1 in the series with it going back to New York if they hold on.
Phils 8, Yanks 2
Phil Hughes replaces Coke. Hughes gets Feliz to strike out to stop the bleeding.
Philadelphia 8, New York 2
****
Top of the Seventh
Posada strikes out looking, making me look stupid for saying he should replace Molina. I stand by it, though, because as one of the originals from Joe Torre's empire in the 90's, Posada needs to be in for the possible Series-clincher.
Jerry Hairston Jr. in to pinch hit, but flies out to center. Two down.
Lee hits the 102 pitch mark as he tries to retire Jeter. Minka Kelly's boyfriend shatters his bat on a line drive out to Utley.
Philly 6, NY 2
****
Bottom of the Sixth
Ruiz lines out and Lee comes to bat. He stikes out, which is no surprise, but he shouldn't have been in to hit in the first place. You've got to pull him, Charlie.
Rollins hits a two-out single, and steals on a wild pitch to Victorino. Jeter makes a tough play and gets Victorino out, bringing Lee back to the mound. I'm no coach, and maybe I'm looking too far ahead, but I think this is Manuel's second mistake with Lee this series. One more inning, max, Chuck.
Philly 6, NY 2
****
Top of the Sixth
A-Rod flies out to open the inning, and it's getting near the time to ask: How long does Lee go? Let's face it, this is his last start this series. But he could come in as a reliever in a potential game seven (see Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling game 7 2001 World Series) I know the Phillie bullpen is shaky, which is why I think you pull Lee in the seventh or eighth at the latest to rest him up. That way you can use him in game 7.
Swisher hits a fly ball that looked like it had more life than it did. Cano singles for the first hit for the last five hitters of the Yankee order.
Gardner looks at all four pitches for a strike out to end the inning.
Phillies 6, Yankees 2
****
Bottom of the Fifth
Alfredo Aceves relieves Robertson and Posada takes over at catcher. Why he doesn't catch for Burnett is beyond me, but it didn't matter too much.
Posada goes to the mound two pitches into the at-bat, drawing boos from the frustrated Philly crowd. Posada does this often.
Werth hits a deep fly ball to the warning track and Gardner makes a beautiful catch jumping into the wall. Gardner is slow to get up, but he just earned a spot in the Sportscenter Top Ten.
Ibanez grounds out. Remember when he was a threat with the Phils? Me neither.
Feliz also grounds out to end the fifth.
Philly 6, NY 2
****
Top of the Fifth
"Hip hip" Jorge Posada pinch hits into a ground out. Now that Burnett's out, Girardi made the right move and took out Molina in favor of Posada.
Eric Hinske pinch-hits for Robertson and walks. Jeter singles, moving Hinske to third, and Damon grounds out but gets the RBI. Two down.
Tex flies out to end the Yankee rally before it can get interesting.
Philly 6, New York 2
****
Bottom of the Fourth
Victorino is still in the game, despite a possibly broken hand. The flyin' Hawaiian is tough, I'll give him that.
But my thoughts are with Lee. Manuel knew he was taking a gamble not starting him yesterday. Now Blanton isn't why the Phils lost, I know. But there is a mental side to baseball. When Josh Johnson pitches, some Marlins have said they expect to win. It's the same with Lee. It would've been a totally different game. Maybe he would've gone 9. Or the team would've hit better. I don't know, but I think Manuel took a gamble and lost. He may have all winter to think it over.
Victorino and Utley ground out, and Howard strikes out for a much needed quick inning for the Yankees.
Philly 6, New York 1
****
Top of the Fourth
Cliff Lee continues his masterpiece (as of the 2nd inning, he's been great) as he gets Swisher to line out.
I know they're supposed to be big and scary and they do score often, but I am not impressed with the latter half of this Yankee lineup. Jeter, Damon, Tex and A-Rod. That's all that intimidates me. The rest would struggle for time on the National ... well, the Marlins.
Cano and Gardner ground out (what a shocker) and the Phils get out of the inning.
Phillies 6, Yankees 1
****
Bottom of the Third
Burnett opens the inning with a walk to potential-MVP Chase Utley. The camera pans to Victorino who may be out of the game due to a hand injury from the first inning. Utley steals second thanks to Jeter botching the catch. Molina gunned him by a step or two but Jeter couldn't scoop it.
WIth count full, Burnett walks Howard to bring out his pitching coach with Werth coming up to bat.
Werth is swinging for the fences but whiffs to fall behind 1-2. He hits a line drive straight up the middle to drive in Utley for RBI single with Howard on first.
Phils 4, Yanks 1
Utley was booking. He is willing the Phils to victory. Tom Copain has stood and asked for the bullpen, but apparently Girardi has other ideas as he leaves Burnett in.
Bad move, Joe. Burnett gives up an RBI single to Ibanez with Werth moving to third. Girardi's seen enough as he pulls the former Marlin Burnett.
Phils 5, Yanks 1
Burnett's line score is 2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.
The new pitcher is David Robertson, who gets Feliz to pop out. He follows it up with a RBI single to Ruiz. Ibanez was out at second, but Lee comes up and singles to move Ruiz to second. Runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs.
Phils 6, Yanks 1
Robertson escapes the inning with Rollins looking at strike three.
Phillies 6, Yankees 1
****
Top of the Third
Jeter leads off the inning and grounds out to get the inning started. Lee has definitely settled in after the shaky first. Damon walks, so scratch what I said about Lee's rythmn. On a personal note, I remember Damon back when he played with Kansas City among the likes of Jermaine Dye and Carlos Beltran. When I returned to Kansas a few years later, I saw him get a rise out of Royals fans (a rare sight) when he showed up with the Red Sox.
Tex hits a double play ball but Utley can't turn two. Two down when A-Rod flies out to a clearly hurt Victorino to end the inning.
Philly 3, NY 1
****
Bottom of the Second
In between innings, I looked up Burnett on Wikipedia. A day after critizing the Marlins organization, he was asked to leave. To take his place, the Fish used a young prospect named Josh Johnson. Johnson has since become the ace of the Marlins, while Burnett chased money and found himself a Yankee.
Burnett falls behind to Ruiz 3-0 only to come back and strike him out. Lee ground out to first to bring up J-Roll. Burnett walks Rollins, just when it seemed like he was getting back into a rythmn. Victorino returns from getting beaned and pops out to end the inning with Rollins on first.
Philly 3, NY 1
****
Top of the Second
Gardner grounds out to first to get things started as Lee seems to be settling in. Of course, I could settle in against Gardner, Molina and Burnett. (I had a mean changeup and decent accuracy back in the day.)
Molina grounds out to third for the second out of the night. Lee strikes out Burnett to end a quick and painless inning for Philly.
Philly 3, NY 1
****
Bottom of the First
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, LF
6. Raul Ibanez, RF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cliff Lee, SP
My thoughts on this lineup: very complete NL lineup. You got speed up top, power in the middle and competent hitters at the end.
Now you are in for a treat, because I am covering a game in which a former Marlins "ace" is pitching: A.J. Burnett, the lone pitcher on the IR during our 2003 run.
The former Fish gives up a single to J-Roll and beans Victorino in the hand. It scares Phillie fans to see Shane in pain as Burnett gets warned and Girardi comes to argue with the ump. Cooler heads prevail and Burnett shows Marlins fans everywhere (all 7 of us) why we don't miss him as he gives up a 3-run shot to Chase Utley.
Philly 3, New York 1
Sports copy editor Eddie Gentile notes Utley could be MVP for losing World Series team, and I must agree, he has a point. Utley has single-handidly kept the Phils in the series, which is an MVP in my book.
Tom Copain, the lone Yankee fan here tonight, concedes defeat after only three hitters.
Burnett walks Howard. Wow. People thought we needed you in 2003? Please. Even now I'd take Brad Penny, Carl Pavano, Beckett (of course) and even Dontrelle Willis (sane or not) over Burnett. He's arrogant but he rarely backs it up when it counts. He's the MLB version of Jimmy Clausen.
But I digress. Burnett strikes out Werth as Girardi stares on. Raul Ibanez almost gets a hit, but Tex robs him with a nice dive at first to get Howard at second. Two outs, Ibanez at first. Feliz grounds out to end the inning.
Philadelphia 3, New York 1
****
Top of the First
And the lineup for the Bronx Bombers:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Nick Swisher, RF
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Brett Gardner, CF
8. Jose Molina, C
9. A.J. Burnett, SP
My thoughts on the lineup: eh. I'm waiting to be impressed. The bottom three and Swisher are average at best. One through four is tough, but the rest is weak. I prefer Alex Gonzalez, Jeff Conine and Juan Encarnacion, the 6, 7 and 8 hitters of the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins.
Derek Jeter gets things rolling with a groundout to Chase Utley. The Phillie faithful gives Damon their respects in Philly fasion, in honor of his baserunning and clutch hitting last night off Brad L.... well, you know.
Damon hits a blooper in center for a single, ending Lee's no-hitter before it could really begin. Tex comes in and flies out to right, bringing up last night's hero A-Rod. And right on cue, Citizen Bank Park erupts with chants that won't be typed here and endless booing. Mr. Kate Hudson drills a line drive down the line to right to score Damon from first. With his work done, Rodriguez stays at 1st.
New York 1, Philadelphia 0
Lee walks Swisher, causing Philly to remember they have a football team and making me reconsider predicting him to be the Series' MVP. I am proud to see he is proving he is no Josh Beckett, however.
Cano flies out to to left to end the inning.
New York 1, Philly 0
****
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Kurt Bopp of the field hockey and lacrosse beat here to keep you posted on game 5 of the 2009 World Series. The Yankees look to capture their 27th World Series title and first in nearly a decade, but the Phils won't go quietly. Charlie Manuel sends ace Cliff Lee to the hill (arguably one game too late) to stifle the Yanks once again and take the series back to New York.
My prediction: Phils win on 7 strong innings by Lee. When the 9th comes around, Manuel doesn't even consider the L-word and opts for Madson to close out the 5-2 victory.
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