WS Game 4 - ARod's Heroics Give Yanks 3-1 Series Lead

The Yanks led 4-2 for most of the game as their lineup began to take a siesta, but things began to look grim as the momentum changed towards the Phillies. Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz both hit solo shots to tie the game at 4 and Brad Lidge retired the first 2 Yanks out in the 9th with Phil Coke warming up in the bullpen. But Johnny Damon started the improbable rally when he battled back from an 1-2 hole to single to left field on a full count. With Mark Teixeira at the plate, Damon stole second and took off for 3rd when no one (Brad Lidge) covered 3B. Feliz was covering second because of the shift.

Thankfully for the Yanks, Lidge plunked the hyperventilating Teixeira with the next pitch, thus setting the stage for an ARod-Lidge rematch. Earlier in the season, ARod took Lidge deep in back-to-back games. With Damon on third, it appeared Lidge wanted to stay away from his sharp slider, and after getting ahead of ARod on a fastball, ARod didn't miss the second one. He ripped it into the LF corner to knock in Damon with the go ahead run, allowing Mariano Rivera to begin warming up in the pen and hushing the rather obnoxious Philly crowd. Jorge Posada knocked in 2 insurance runs with a single to left center to give the Yanks a 7-4, although he continued his baffling runnig mistakes when he was thrown by 30 feet at second to end the rally.

Things began quickly for the Yanks. Derek Jeter singled and Damon doubled to lead off the game. Tex knocked in a run when Ryan Howard robbed him of a potential double and Posada knocked in the 2nd run with a sac fly. Meanwhile, ARod was plunked for a 3rd time in the Series, leading to a warning for both teams before CC Sabathia even threw a pitch.

Phillies starter, Joe Blanton, 0-3 lifetime with a career ERA over 8.00, settled down to retire 11 straight Yankees. The Yanks touched him up for 2 more runs in the 5th on RBI singles from The Captain and Damon after Feliz tied it up at 2 for the Phillies in the 4th.

Sabathia, pitching on 3 days rest, battled all night. He escaped a 2 runners on, no out jam in the 5th, retiring the heart of the Phillies order, and appeared to be cruising till he gave up a 2-out, 1-2 count HR to his nemesis, Chase Utley. It was Utley's 3rd HR and 4th extra base hit off Sabathia in the series. Out went Sabathia and in came new Yankee hero, Damaso Marte, who retired Howard on a fly ball to LF. Marte is pitching a la Graeme Lloyd in the 1996 World Series when Lloyd dominated Braves lefty hitters Ryan Klesko and Fred McGriff.

The Yanks brought in Joba Chamberlain in the 8th, and for 2.5 batters, Joe Girardi appeared to be a genius. Joba struck out Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez before going up 1-2 in the count to Pedro Feliz. After falling behind 3-2, Joba laid a fat fastball over the plate that the weak-hitting Feliz crushed into the LF seats, sending Citizens Bank Park into bedlam. The sharks smelled blood in the water as it appeared the Phils were going to perform another of their postseason comebacks.

But ARod had other plans, and with the 3 run lead, Mo came out and retired the shell-shocked Phillies on 8 pitches, including Jimmy Rollins for a 2nd straight night, despite his proclamation that the Phillies "had him figured out".

The Yanks will send AJ Burnett to the mound tomorrow on 3 days rest against Cliff Lee, who absolutely dominated the Bombers in Game 1. Nothing would be sweeter than watching the Yanks clinch this series in front of the arrogant, ignorant, and clueless fans of Philadelphia.

Yankees Postseason Record: 10-3

World Series: Yanks up, 3-1