MLB: Phillies put Yankees' parade plans on hold

Published: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 11:19 p.m. MST
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PHILADELPHIA — Put those parade plans on hold, New York. The Phillies are coming back.

Chase Utley hit two home runs to raise his World Series total to a record-tying five, backing Cliff Lee once again as Philadelphia staved off elimination by hanging on for a wild 8-6 victory Monday night that set up a Game 6 for the first time since 2003.

"We had to do it," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "We didn't have a choice. It was either go home and watch football and college basketball or extend the season."

Utley hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the first inning off A.J. Burnett and added a solo shot in the seventh to join Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit five home runs in a single World Series.

"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."

Philadelphia closed within three games to two by replicating its winning formula from the opener, when Utley hit two solo homers and Lee pitched a six-hitter. Raul Ibanez set off fireworks from the Liberty Bell one last time, adding a second solo shot in the seventh off Phil Coke that made it 8-2.

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Lee gave up a run-scoring single to Alex Rodriguez in the first inning but settled in until A-Rod chased him with a two-run double in the eighth. Robinson Cano drove in Rodriguez with a sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to 8-5, and New York gave Philadelphia a scare when Jorge Posada doubled and Hideki Matsui singled at the start of the ninth against Ryan Madson.

Derek Jeter hit into a run-scoring double play, Johnny Damon singled and Madson struck out slumping Mark Teixeira for the save.

"We have a lot of heart on this team," Utley said.

The Yankees, who have won the Series all eight previous times they took a 3-1 lead, will try to close out title No. 27 on Wednesday night at home. Game 3 winner Andy Pettitte is likely to come back on three days' rest and face Game 2 loser Pedro Martinez.

"If we would have pitched today, we probably would have won," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That's the bottom line."

Pitching on short rest didn't work well for Burnett, who had been 4-0 previously in his career on three days' off and kept the Phillies off balance in Game 2. He kept falling behind batters and allowed six runs, four hits and four walks in two-plus innings, his shortest start since his first outing in 2007.

It marked the first time in 14 postseason games this year that a Yankees starter failed to pitch at least six innings.

In a matchup of starters from Arkansas, Lee allowed five runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings. He is 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts.

Recent comments

Chase Utley is officially the Yankee "clipper". Only two people can...

THEeyepatch | Nov. 3, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.

The competition. Is equal to life's journey. When you stand up to...

johntvalentine | Nov. 3, 2009 at 12:17 a.m.

Image
Al Bello, Getty Images

Philadelphia closer Ryan Madson celebrates the final out in Phillies' 8-6 Game 5 win over the New York Yankees.

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