Phillies Tag Burnett Early, Hang On Late To Extend Series
Source: Brandon Hicks, CBC Sports
Posted: 11/03/09 10:29AM
Filed Under: Main
There's a simple equation emerging in the 2009 World Series: Chase Utley plus two home runs equals a Philadelphia Phillies victory.
The Philadelphia slugger smacked two more homers Monday as his team tagged New York starter A.J. Burnett early, and the Phillies hung on late to stay alive in the World Series by beating the visiting Yankees 8-6 in Game 5.
"It's pretty cool," Utley said. "It's pretty surreal. I'm glad we got the win tonight. We're going back to Yankee Stadium."
Utley, who now has five home runs in the Fall Classic, overturned a 1-0 New York lead in the bottom of the first by sending Burnett's first offering high over the right-field wall for a three-run homer.
Philadelphia added three more runs in the third to chase the New York hurler from the mound. Utley hit a solo shot in the seventh for his second of the night.
But the Yanks were far from done, putting a scare into the fans at Citizens Bank Park late by cutting the Philadelphia lead to 8-5 in the eighth.
The Phillies opted to go with reliever Ryan Madson in the ninth instead of regular closer Brad Lidge, who was saddled with Sunday's loss after the Yankees won that game in the top of the ninth.
There were no ninth inning heroics for New York this time around. After Madson allowed runners to get on first and third with nobody out, he forced Derek Jeter to hit into a double play and struck out Mark Teixeira a couple batters later to escape with the save.
"We have a lot of heart on this team," Utley said. He hit his first two home runs of the Series during Philadelphia's 6-1 victory in Game 1. Return to the Bronx
New York leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, and returns to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium for Game 6 on Wednesday. Philadelphia's Pedro Martinez will face Yankee ace Andy Pettitte.
Phillies starter Cliff Lee (2-0) had little trouble with seven Yankee batters Monday, but Alex Rodriguez continued his trend of clutch hitting by driving in three of the Bronx Bombers' six runs, and Johnny Damon went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Lee was chased after surrendering a two-run double to A-Rod in the eighth, and threw seven complete innings while giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out three.
Burnett (1-1) didn't last half that long. Running on a shortened three days' rest, the Yankees hurler went two innings and gave up six runs off four hits and four walks.
"If we would have pitched today, we probably would have won," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That's the bottom line."
The 30-year-old Utley has now hit five home runs in the World Series, tying Mr. October himself, Yankee legend Reggie Jackson, for the most homers in a single Fall Classic. Utley had four RBIs on Monday.
"Chase, when he gets hot, definitely he can get hot and stay hot for a month or two," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
Rodriguez drove Damon in for the opening run of the game in the top of the first. Utley replied in the bottom half of the inning with his first homer. Adding to the lead
The Phillies would add three more in the third thanks to RBI singles from Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez along with a sacrifice from Carlos Ruiz.
In the fifth, Damon drove in Eric Hinske for New York's second run of the game.
Two solo home runs added to the Philadelphia lead in the seventh, as Utley hit his second of the game and Ibanez got into the act with a homer of his own.
The Yanks responded in the eighth with three runs. Rodriguez hit a two-run RBI double, and Robinson Cano hit a sacrifice fly to send A-Rod home. Jorge Posada scored in the ninth when Jeter hit into a double-play.
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