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Fall Classic – Game 5 – Yankees v. Phillies

By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on November 2, 2009 at 6:45 PM in Current Affairs

Sunday night’s game was quite a doozy. CC Sabathia took the mound for the NY Yankees on just 3 days rest against Joe Blanton of the Philadelphia Phillies. He did pretty well, the same as the first game, giving up only two runs through 6 2/3 innings. And then, Sabathia faced Chase Utley int he lineup again, though this time, Utley took Sabathia yard. Yep. It was reminiscent of the first game Sabathia pitched in the World Series when Utley got two homers off of him. This time, Utley smacked a big ol’ homer, a “no doubter,” as we say, into the right field stands. And, Sabathia’s day was done, though he left with a 4-3 lead. Demaso Marte came in to get the last out, which he did, and then Martes’s day was done.

The hard-throwing reliever(then starting pitcher, now reliever again) Joba Chamberlain came in for the 8th inning, and tried to preserve the Yankees lead long enough to get it to Mariano Rivera. He was hurling 97mph fastballs, and doing his job, getting two relatively fast outs. Until Pedro Feliz stepped up to the plate. Oh, Chamberlain threw some 97mph fastballs his way, too, even got a couple of strikes on him with that fastball. But Feliz was ready for the last one, and smashed it into the left field stands. The score was tied at 4 all.

Then came the craziest ninth inning I have ever seen. The Philies reliever, Brad Lidge came in, hoping to keep the Yankees scoreless so the Phillies would have their chance to even up the series in the bottom of the ninth. Lidge got the first two outs, then came Johnny Damon. Well, this was a battle. Lidge threw 9 pitches to Damon, with the 9th turned into a single by Damon. This is where it just got wild. Damon stole second very early in the count against the next batter, Mark Teixeira. In the most amazing steal I have ever seen, Damon realized that Lidge was not covering third. Feliz had come from third to cover second when Damon stole second. Damon popped up from second, seeing Felix there with the ball, and no one on third, Damon took off. He stole third safely, and was now 90 ft from home plate.

Lidge ended up hitting the next batter, Teixiera, which brought A-Rod to the plate. A-Rod had been held hit-less in the game – until then. A-rod he hit a double, scoring Damon easily. Jorge Posada came up next, and hit a single, scoring two runs, and was out at second when he tried to stretch his hit into a double. By then, the damage was done – the Yankees led 7-4.

Mariano Rivera came in and did what he does – got three quick outs, all recorded by Teixeia at first base. The Yankees now lead the Series 3 -1.


It is “Make It Or Break It” time for the Phillies in tonight’s game. They are one Yankee win away from losing the World Series. Naturally, the Phillies are calling upon Cliff Lee, the winner of Game 1 in which he pitched a Complete Game Shutout, giving up 6 hits, and one unearned run. The Phillies and fans are hoping that Lee, their star ace, can repeat the phenomenal game he pitched in New York, thus keeping them in this Series. The good news for the Philly Faithful is that Lee is on his regular rotation, so he should be well rested for this all-important game. The bad news is that more Yankees’ bats have woken up some since Lee pitched. Still, the Phillies have to like their chances with Lee in the game.(Photo by artolog)

(Photo by Wigstruck)

On the other side of the diamond, pitching for the Yankees, is AJ Burnett. Pitching on just three days rest, Burnett hopes to repeat HIS win, in which he gave up just four hits, and one run. Burnett has been a somewhat temperamental pitcher throughout the regular season, but he has really come through in the Postseason despite his loss to the Angels (many feel Girardi never should have put him back out on the mound after sitting for over half an hour). The Yankees hope he will be able to continue that trend tonight to clinch the World Series Championship in five games.

This should be an exciting game tonight, especially since it is a must-win for the Phillies. Though last night’s game will be hard to beat! Still, this one has all the ingredients to be a real nail-biter.

As always, I hope to see y’all here, Yankees and Phillie fans both!