11/02: World Series Game 4: Late Rally Puts Yankees Within One Victory of a Title
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees are now just 27 outs away from wrapping up their 27th World Series title, thanks to a tie-braking 9th inning rally that led to a 7–4 victory over the Phillies and a commanding 3–1 series lead. This latest installment of the 2009 World Series was a seesaw, back-and-forth affair in which the Philles rallied from two separate two-run deficits before the Yankees finally put them away in the final inning.
The Yankees jumped ahead against Joe Blanton in the first inning on a series of productive outs. A ground out by Mark Teixeira to first scored Derek Jeter from third and also moved Johnny Damon from second to third. Damon was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Jorge Posada after Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch.
The HBP was the third for A-Rod in the last two nights, prompting home plate umpire Mike Everitt to issue a warning to both benches. The warning could have turned out to be huge, because it potentially could have taken the inside part of the plate away from both pitchers before CC Sabathia even took the mound, but it didn't really seem to be much of an issue and there were no further extracurricular fireworks to speak of in the game.
Philadelphia would bounce back with a run in the bottom of the inning as Sabathia's apparent nemesis, Chase Utley doubled home a run, scoring Shane Victorino from second with a knock to right to pull the Phillies to within a run. The Phils would later tie the game in the bottom of the 4th, as a base hit by Pedro Feliz scored a hustling Ryan Howard from second.
The Yanks would get those two runs back in the 5th. A ground ball to the left side by Derek Jeter found a hole and rolled in to the outfield, scoring Nick Swisher from second to give the Yankees a 3–2 lead. Johnny Damon was next up and he would add some insurance, scoring Melky Cabrera from second on a base hit to right.
The Phillies would claw back again, however. In the bottom of the 7th, Chase Utley took Sabathia deep for the third time in this series, pulling Philly to within 4–3. That was the end of the night for CC, who in 6 and 2/3 labored a bit, but was in position to win the game as he left. Sabathia did allow 10 runners to reach base, 7 of them on hits and 3 via walks, allowing 3 runs while striking out 6.
Damaso Marte was able to finish the 7th without any damage, but Joba Chamberlain was not quite so fortunate in the 8th. Joba struck out the side, but it was not before Pedro Feliz took him deep to tie the game for the second time, this time at 4 apiece.
The Yankees would eventually deliver the final knockout punches in the 9th. Brad Lidge entered the game and retired the first two batters he faced, before Johnny Damon kept the inning alive with a line drive single to left. With Mark Teixeira up next, Damon stole both second and third base on a bizarre play in which no Phillies defender had been covering third base because of the defensive shift they put on for the pull-hitting Mark Teixeira. Teixeira was later hit by a pitch, making the stolen bases a bit less consequential.
That set the stage for A-Rod, who delivered, to date, his biggest hit as a Yankee and probably his career to this point, breaking the tie with a double to left field that scored Damon from third. Jorge Posada would add two more runs to the scoreboard for good measure, as he lined one into the left-center field gap, scoring both Teixeira and Rodriguez to put the Yankees ahead 7–4. Posada tried to stretch the play into a double, but was tagged out well before making it to second base to end the top half of the inning.
Mariano Rivera would enter the game to close things out in the bottom of the 9th, and as he customarily does, went through an opposing lineup in the World Series without even having to breathe. Rivera retired the side in order, giving the Yanks a 3–1 series edge, and giving the Yanks an opportunity to wrap up the series as early as tonight.
A.J. Burnett will take the mound tonight on short rest, and will hope to put his team in a position to wrap up their 27th World Championship. It won't be a cakewalk, though, as he'll be up against Cliff Lee and the Phils. Get your champagne ready, folks. Game starts at 7:57 ET.
The Yankees jumped ahead against Joe Blanton in the first inning on a series of productive outs. A ground out by Mark Teixeira to first scored Derek Jeter from third and also moved Johnny Damon from second to third. Damon was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Jorge Posada after Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch.
The HBP was the third for A-Rod in the last two nights, prompting home plate umpire Mike Everitt to issue a warning to both benches. The warning could have turned out to be huge, because it potentially could have taken the inside part of the plate away from both pitchers before CC Sabathia even took the mound, but it didn't really seem to be much of an issue and there were no further extracurricular fireworks to speak of in the game.
Philadelphia would bounce back with a run in the bottom of the inning as Sabathia's apparent nemesis, Chase Utley doubled home a run, scoring Shane Victorino from second with a knock to right to pull the Phillies to within a run. The Phils would later tie the game in the bottom of the 4th, as a base hit by Pedro Feliz scored a hustling Ryan Howard from second.
The Yanks would get those two runs back in the 5th. A ground ball to the left side by Derek Jeter found a hole and rolled in to the outfield, scoring Nick Swisher from second to give the Yankees a 3–2 lead. Johnny Damon was next up and he would add some insurance, scoring Melky Cabrera from second on a base hit to right.
The Phillies would claw back again, however. In the bottom of the 7th, Chase Utley took Sabathia deep for the third time in this series, pulling Philly to within 4–3. That was the end of the night for CC, who in 6 and 2/3 labored a bit, but was in position to win the game as he left. Sabathia did allow 10 runners to reach base, 7 of them on hits and 3 via walks, allowing 3 runs while striking out 6.
Damaso Marte was able to finish the 7th without any damage, but Joba Chamberlain was not quite so fortunate in the 8th. Joba struck out the side, but it was not before Pedro Feliz took him deep to tie the game for the second time, this time at 4 apiece.
The Yankees would eventually deliver the final knockout punches in the 9th. Brad Lidge entered the game and retired the first two batters he faced, before Johnny Damon kept the inning alive with a line drive single to left. With Mark Teixeira up next, Damon stole both second and third base on a bizarre play in which no Phillies defender had been covering third base because of the defensive shift they put on for the pull-hitting Mark Teixeira. Teixeira was later hit by a pitch, making the stolen bases a bit less consequential.
That set the stage for A-Rod, who delivered, to date, his biggest hit as a Yankee and probably his career to this point, breaking the tie with a double to left field that scored Damon from third. Jorge Posada would add two more runs to the scoreboard for good measure, as he lined one into the left-center field gap, scoring both Teixeira and Rodriguez to put the Yankees ahead 7–4. Posada tried to stretch the play into a double, but was tagged out well before making it to second base to end the top half of the inning.
Mariano Rivera would enter the game to close things out in the bottom of the 9th, and as he customarily does, went through an opposing lineup in the World Series without even having to breathe. Rivera retired the side in order, giving the Yanks a 3–1 series edge, and giving the Yanks an opportunity to wrap up the series as early as tonight.
A.J. Burnett will take the mound tonight on short rest, and will hope to put his team in a position to wrap up their 27th World Championship. It won't be a cakewalk, though, as he'll be up against Cliff Lee and the Phils. Get your champagne ready, folks. Game starts at 7:57 ET.
