Cliff Lee made his first World Series start a romp, throwing a complete game, striking out 10, walking none, and surrendering just one unearned run. Chase Utley provided all the offense that the Phillies needed, twice taking C.C. Sabathia deep. In the 1st, Utley worked a walk off Sabathia, who had quickly retired the first two batter. He then loaded the bases before getting Ibanez to ground out. Utley had two more terrific at-bats in the 3rd and 6th innings, going deep each time on two-strike pitches. The first homer was a Yankee Stadium cheapie; the second was dramatic.
It was the first time that Sabathia had given up a homer to a lefthanded hitter at Yankee Stadium. It was also the second time ever that a lefthanded hitter had homered twice off a lefthanded pitcher in a World Series game. The first to do it? Babe Ruth. The Phillies scored two more in the 8th and another two more in the 9th off the shaky Yankee bullpen, in the 6-1 win. By the time the Yankees scored their unearned run in the 9th, the stands were half-empty.
Sabathia was good, allowing just four hits in seven innings, but never looked comfortable. Lee, however, was spectacular. As in the two games I saw him pitch this postseason, he made it look breathtakingly easy. In four postseason starts he is now 3-0; the Phillies are 4-0 in those starts. In 33.1 postseason innings pitched, he has allowed 20 hits and two earned runs, while striking out 30 and walking just three. His ERA is now 0.52. Lee also made a couple of ridiculous defensive plays last night. Too bad he did not get a chance to hit.
Not surprisingly, most of the national/ESPN/FOX pregame hype about this pitchers' match-up focused on C.C. Sabathia. If the NY-based media ever gets its head out of its elbow, maybe the Phillies will get some long-overdue recognition.
Jimmy Rollins was part of a heads-up double play, with a little help from a Yankee blunder on the base paths. Oh yes, Chase Utley last night set a major league postseason record by reaching base in 26 consecutive games.
Tonight: Pedro vs. A.J. Burnett. If Pedro's pitching lives up to his presser yesterday, a vintage performance including an irresistible reference to red beans and rice, it should be an entertaining game.
