Lucky six
Six teams have come back and won after trailing 3-1:
1985: Royals over Cards
1979: Pirates over Orioles
1968: Tigers over Cards
1958: Yanks over Brewers
1925: Pirates over Senators
1903: Red Sox over Pirates
Published 02:23, November the 3rd, 2009
Let’s play two in the Bronx
In 104 previous World Series, only six teams were able to celebrate after rallying from a 3-1 deficit. The Phillies are still alive to become the seventh.
Solid starting pitching from Cliff Lee, two home runs from Chase Utley and a three-out save from Ryan Madson — not Brad Lidge — helped propel the Phillies to a 8-6 victory over the Yankees last night at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty surreal. I’m glad we got the win [last night],” Utley said afterward.
With three runs in the first inning, three in the third and two more in the seventh, the Phillies were able to snap a three-game skid in this series and send the Fall Classic back to Yankee Stadium for Game 6 tomorrow night. A potential Game 7 would be played on Thursday.
Utley’s homer off A.J. Burnett in the first erased a 1-0 deficit. Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez each contributed RBI singles and Carlos Ruiz picked up an RBI groundout in the third. Utley and Ibanez added solo shots in the seventh.
Burnett, who was virtually unhittable in Game 2, surrendered six earned runs in two-plus innings while pitching on three days rest.
Now, the Phillies are headed back to New York. They nearly became the first team since 1983 to lose all three games at home and have the visitors popping champagne on their home field. The last time it happened, the Orioles swept the Phils at Veterans Stadium to win it.
What went right ...
1 LEE DOES IT AGAIN — Cliff Lee wasn’t quite as brilliant as he was in Game 1, but he was certainly effective. Lee changed speeds and kept the Yanks lineup relatively in check after giving up an earned run in the first inning. When it was over, Lee was charged with five earned runs in seven-plus innings, and he threw 112 pitches.
2 SECOND THAT EMOTION — Chase Utley drilled two homers, including a three-run shot to start the scoring. He now has five home runs in this World Series, tying Reggie Jackson’s MLB record (1977). Utley also stole a base, improving his total to 26-for-26 during the regular season and playoffs.
3 START ME UP — The Phillies catalyst, Jimmy Rollins, opened the bottom of the first with a single to center. When Rollins scores, the Phillies usually win. This was no exception. In his first four plate appearances, Rollins had two singles and a walk.