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Big League Stew

Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:22 am EST

With Yankees on brink of clinching, Utley and Phillies push back

By David Brown

Score and situation: Phillies 8, Yankees 6  New York leads series 3-2

Leading lad: Chase Utley(notes), is there anything you can't do? Utley homered twice, giving him five in the Series to tie Reggie Jackson's 32-year-old record. Reggie can still be Mr. October however; three of Utley's homers have come in November. Utley also has seven career homers in the World Series; only Duke Snider, with 11, has more in a career among NL players. Utley is hitting .333 in the series, but has yet to single. His other hit in 18 at-bats was a double.

Head hangers: Somewhat predictably, A.J. Burnett(notes) wasn't as sharp as he was in Game 2. Pitching with three days of rest, he allowed six runs, four hits and four walks in two-plus innings.

Phil Coke(notes), whose job it is to get out lefties, allowed solo homers to lefties Utley and Raul Ibanez(notes) in the bottom of the seventh, giving Philly insurance it would need.

Key play: With Alex Rodriguez(notes) on deck as the potential tying run in the ninth, Derek Jeter(notes) grounded into a double play to kill the Yankees rally against closer Ryan Madson(notes).

Key stat: X-rays on Shane Victorino's(notes) hand were negative for a break, which gives the Phillies a huge break for the rest of the Series.

What they're talking about: It's hard to second-guess manager Joe Girardi for using Burnett instead of, say, Chad Gaudin(notes). Gaudin tossed one inning in the ALCS on Oct. 20, but hasn't started a game since Sept. 3. Even the mighty Yankees lack pitching depth.

What they're saying:

"It's cool. It's pretty surreal. I'm glad we got the win tonight. We're going back to Yankee Stadium." — Chase Utley

What's next: A rested Pedro Martinez(notes), who lost Game 2, gets one more crack at the Yankees in the Bronx at 7:57 ET on Wednesday night. Andy Pettitte(notes), the winningest pitcher in postseason history, probably goes for the Yanks with three days of rest.

Related: Phil Coke, Chad Gaudin, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Madson, A.J. Burnett, Raúl Ibañez, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Álex Rodríguez, Pedro Martínez, 2009 postseason on the Stew, A-Rod on BLS, 2009 World Series on the Stew, Derek Jeter on BLS

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64 Comments

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  1. Michael G
    1. Posted by Michael G Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:40 am EST

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    first finally
  2. Michael G
    2. Posted by Michael G Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:40 am EST

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    dam right
  3. Michael G
    3. Posted by Michael G Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:41 am EST

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    yanks all the way, then bruins in NCAA, then Kings in NBA finals, then cowboys in super bowl, peace out US , i got an essay to write
  4. AlF
    4. Posted by AlF Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:46 am EST

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    after watching tonights game 5,it is easy to see that the yankees are screwing up.Lets face it,Cano,has done nothing,all the hitters,except for Jetter,and A-Rod,and Tex,are swinging at [profane] balls,what the hell is the matter with them?I am just a fan,but have been for 50 years,and to them swing at pitches that where so low,and to trey win with one swing of the bat,is unreal,they need to get back to the basics of elementry baseball.AND OUR BULL=PEN,well if they keep pitching the way they are Phillies will win in 7.It's a shame to see our yankees playing this terrible.And whats up with Geradi,can't he see that the mistakes are so stupid and he needs to put his foot down,and take action,if the yankees lose this world series,then Joe is to blame
  5. SouthPhillyCliff
    5. Posted by SouthPhillyCliff Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:46 am EST

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    keep on Phightin!!!!
  6. SouthPhillyCliff
    6. Posted by SouthPhillyCliff Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:46 am EST

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    keep on Phightin!!!!
  7. dorado0880
    7. Posted by dorado0880 Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:49 am EST

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    Nice game phillis don't give up we can do it.
    Check this out http://www.gamepxw.com
  8. Mark S
    8. Posted by Mark S Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:50 am EST

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    I can't stand Podsoda that pompous clown, and A Rod over acting in the batters box, and standing at home plate to fix his sox after he reached home! Podsoda looks like a bird and beaks like one about the strike zone. I could go on and on about this bunch of overblown egomaniacs.
  9. Tzar
    9. Posted by Tzar Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:50 am EST

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    2nd...or 3rd?
  10. Mike T
    10. Posted by Mike T Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:55 am EST

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    should have pitched Chad! kept aj for wednesday. girardi is no torre
  11. Tommy Boy
    11. Posted by Tommy Boy Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:58 am EST

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    It's over in Game 6,Andy will deliver the goods,I know it,Yankee Nation knows it,and the Phils and their fans know it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  12. pennstate fan
    12. Posted by pennstate fan Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:03 am EST

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    Go Phillies but those Yankees give the impression that they can score when they have to. Lee was hot but can the rest of the Phillies pitching hold down a team with lots of talent ready to explode at any moment? Cole Hamel's gotta have a great game if they are to have a chance. Yankees act like prima donnas, hey A-Rod maybe thinking about Maddona. Johnny D. can play if he gets his head into the game. OPinions anybody.
  13. pennstate fan
    13. Posted by pennstate fan Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:09 am EST

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    Bruins in the NCAA? Thirty-five years too late but with so much G-d given talent out there, anything is possible. Johnny "Wizard" Wooden had the best teams but with all of the illegal garbage in recruiting, those dynasty days are gone.
  14. pennstate fan
    14. Posted by pennstate fan Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:12 am EST

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    Andy delivers in the clutch but if the Phils can get to him early, they might have a chance. Mariano Rivera is gone for 2 innings, max. The cold weather could cause a problem.
  15. Alan F
    15. Posted by Alan F Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:20 am EST

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    i doub tit.. that cheesteak aint lookng so hot afertall. that pizaa is sut stareting to gey hot and its not so bad. id orefer cheesteeak over pizza. oh wlel.
  16. acerazer1
    16. Posted by acerazer1 Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:24 am EST

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    Rally came up short, killed by the Jeter groundball dp. Not for nothing, but I don't think the Yankees really expected to blow away the Phils in this game and wrap up the series. I know he had a good game 2, but Burnett really has been the weakest Yankee starter in Sept and Oct, and Lee is obviously the Phillies' best. Now we will see if our 2 (Andy) is better than their 2 (Pedro). Or, if it gets this far, if our 1 (CC) is better than whatever Manuel decides on. Hamels doesn't seem like he wants the ball, maybe Blanton will take it on three days rest or the youngster Happ will step up. Anyone has more guts than Hamels at the moment.
  17. acerazer1
    17. Posted by acerazer1 Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:32 am EST

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    No doubt about it, on Wed. if the Yankees have a small lead heading into the 7th, Joba will be warming in the bullpen if he isn't already in the game. And Mo will pitch the 8th and 9th, barring any Joba meltdowns.
    If the cold is a factor, it will affect Pedro more than Pettitte I think. Andy's curve might be affected but his bread and butter is still the cutter in on the hands of the righties. All of Pedro's big pitches are feel pitches, it'll be very difficult to rely on that 88 mph fastball if he can't throw his changeup for strikes. On Wed. night temperatures could plummet to the low 40s, and we will see high 30s on thursday night.
  18. Stephen P
    18. Posted by Stephen P Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:35 am EST

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    I don't root for either team, but did anybody seriously think this wasn't going back to the Bronx where A-rod will get the game winning hit and the fickle Yankee fans will say we've always loved him.
  19. Lawrence
    19. Posted by Lawrence Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:02 am EST

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    I already tried ,Yahoo didnt bother to post it so screw Yahoo! I am gone!outa here.No more of this site a big waste of time.There are better.
  20. C_W
    20. Posted by C_W Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:15 am EST

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    Stephen P said, a-rod... "fickle Yankee fans will say we've always loved him" I couldn't agree with you more!
  21. trdrules
    21. Posted by trdrules Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:50 am EST

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    phillies in 7.
    if it gets that far, cc will fold under the pressure like he did twice earlier.
    He has yet to beat the phillies in 3 post season games the last two years.
    What makes you think he can do it now.
    Yankees best chance is to win game 6, or else phils in 7.
  22. DANNY B
    22. Posted by DANNY B Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:55 am EST

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    I like the Phillies chances against a short rested Pettite.
  23. MAC
    23. Posted by MAC Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:56 am EST

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    dayumm the phillies almost lost again not good for them. they better get a big lead
  24. Tico76
    24. Posted by Tico76 Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:56 am EST

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    Good job Philly
    It will be tough to win game 6 but if you can do it I think game 7 is Philly's. Man I hope they can. I think all the fans of the other MLB teams are all behind Philly. Who wants the YANKEES- MONEY TEAM to win other than those annoying NY fans and bangwagoners around the country. Screw the Yankees they are wrong for Baseball. MLB fix this B.S. system that rewards "bottom feeding teams" and makes over matching teams like the Yankees all they want to do because of MONEY!!!!!! -------SALARY CAP PLEASE!!!!!!!! - MLB union to blame also!!!!!
  25. Lord Ross
    25. Posted by Lord Ross Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:10 am EST

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    Phil Choke, not Coke.

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