Fall Classic - Game 3 - Yankees At Phillies (Updated)

Yankees pitcher AJ Burnett pitched the game of his life Thursday night, giving up only one run (which could just as easily been an unearned run, but who knows the ways of Official Scorers?). The final score of the second game was 3 -1 Yankees. Tex (Mark Texiera) tied up the score with a home run, then in the 6th, Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui put the Yankees ahead for the first time in this series with another home run, the second off of their old nemesis, Pedro Martinez. The Yanks were able to tack on an insurance run in the 7th after Martinez had left the game, a smile on his face as Yankee fans chanted, “Who’s your daddy?” Mariano Rivera took the mound from AJ Burnett in the 8th, and got 6 outs to end the game. The Series is all tied up at one apiece.

Once again, though, a bad call, and a questionable call, both by the same umpire, Brian Gorman (first base), no doubt impacted the game. The bad came against the Yankees. Rather than the Yankees ending up with the bases loaded, a double play was called despite replay evidence that showed, without a doubt, that the ball was not caught in the air, thus both players should have been safe. The questionable call was on the other side, when Chase Utley was called out at first on the second half of a double play in the 8th. (And this is why many think we need instant replay, at least at this level of play. I have seen umpires use it in other instances, so the lack of it in the World Series is a bit surprising. Some would argue that these two calls evened out, but there is a difference between the bases loaded and 1 out, and runners at the corners and 2 outs. Just saying.) HOPEFULLY, despite evidence to the contrary, tonight will prove to be a better game by the umpires.

(Keith Allison)
Tonight (Saturday), the Yankees travel to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to meet the Phillies to continue the series. The Yankees will put veteran Andy Pettitte on the mound. Pettitte has won more post season games than any other pitcher ever with 16 under his belt, and one of the prettiest wind-ups in the MLB along with the recently retired Tom Glavine. His regular season record was 14-8 with an ERA of 4.16, though his post season ERA this year is 2.37. The Ragin’ Cajun (okay, he is only part Cajun, but he is from Baton Rouge originally) will take the mound in search of his 17th win, and the edge to his team.

(totalprosports.com)

On the mound for the Philies tonight is Cole Hamels, a relatively young pitcher, though he was a shining star for the Phillies in 2008, especially in the postseason. He won the NLCS MVP as well as the World Series MVP. Like Pettitte, Hamels is a leftie. That should make lineup choices even more interesting. Hamels regular season record this year is 10-11, with an ERA of 4.32. His post season record is 1-1, with an ERA of 6.75. Hamels injured his throwing elbow in Spring Training, which has impacted his ability to hit his spots from time to time. Still, the World Series has the ability to elevate pitchers to their best, and that is what Phillies fans are hoping to see from their young pitcher tonight.

Both teams are hoping their sluggers will rise from their slumber. Yankees 3rd baseman A-Rod has gone a surprising 0 - 8 with 6 strikeouts in the two games, especially after the great offense he provided in the ALCS. No doubt, he is hoping a change of venue will get his bat working again. Yankees fans worry that he has returned to his previous post-season slump, though hopes spring high that arguably the best player in baseball will return to his regular form.

On the other side, Ryan Howard, the Phillies first baseman, is struggling at the plate, too, racking up four strikeouts in the second game of the series. No doubt, the Phillies hope he will be able to return to his Game 1 performance of a couple of doubles, or more.

Bottom line, pitchers on both sides are hoping to shut down these two offensive threats, and the threats the powerful line-ups of both teams represent. The Yankees, though, are hoping that this Halloween will work out like the game they played back in 2001. You may recall that the World Series was postponed as a result of 9/11, so that was the FIRST game in the series. Naturally, the Phillies hope the magic tonight will go their way.

On a personal level, one of the cool things about living near Charleston, SC for me is that we have a Single A farm team for the Yankees, the Riverdogs. In this series, five active players, four for the Yanks, one for the Phillies, came up through Charleston. One of those players for the Yankees, Brett Gardner, was a standout outfielder at the College of Charleston, and did not play for the Riverdogs. The other three players for the Yankees are pitchers, and did come through the Riverdogs: Phil Hughes, David Robertson, and Phil Coke. The former Riverdog for the Phillies is also a pitcher, Scott Eyre (he came up some time ago before the Riverdogs were a Yankees farm team). Cool, huh?

Saturday’s game is on Fox, at 7:57. And once again, regrettably, with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver calling the game (honestly, can Fox not get any better commentators than these two? There have GOT to be better sportscasters out there!). It should be a mild night for baseball, with no rain predicted. UPDATE: Now, rain IS in the forecast for the game!

Hope to see you here during the game. (And no doubt, Helenk will provide us with more videos of the Mummers Strut!)