New York Yankees on brink of World Series title #27
A three-run outburts in the ninth on Sunday gave the Yankees a 7-4 win in Game 4 and 3-1 lead over the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. With their backs to the wall and needing three straight wins now to defend their 2008 title, Philadelphia will turn to their postseason hero in Game 5 to bail them out and extend the MLB season at least one more game when they send Cliff Lee to the mound against A.J. Burnett.
On Monday night, Philadelphia will send their miracle worker to the mound. Good thing since they're down 3-1 to the Yankees in the World Series and will need something of a miracle to defend their 2008 title.
The Yankees face a tall order in Game 5
if they're going to nail down the Series
New York inched closer to their 27th World Series Championship with a 7-4 win on Sunday in Game 4. The Yankees broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth when they plated three runs off Phils closer Brad Lidge, the winning rally ignited by an Alex Rodriguez double, capped by a two-run Jorge Posada single and closed out by yet another postseason Mariano Rivera.
But as close as New York is to its 27th Fall Classic win, they're not favored to get it in Game 5 on Monday when they take on Phillies ace Cliff Lee. The line opened with Lee and the Phils -140 favorites against New York who will have Game 2 winner A.J. Burnett on the mound.
For once the Yankees have the line value as the +130 dogs. Burnett was magnificent in Game 2 back in New York, going seven innings and striking out Nine will giving up just four hits in the 3-1 win.
That +130 looks even sweeter after the offense has awakened the past two games with eight and seven runs coming home. Rodriguez has provided the key blows in both games, his home run off the camera in Game 4 starting New York's comeback after trailing 3-0 early in the game and his RBI double last night driving in the game winner.
Nick Swisher has reached base four times the last two games, scoring three runs, and Johnny Damon is coming off a three-hit effort on Sunday. This is the lineup that produced the most runs during the regular season, and they're looking every bit the part right now.
This is the by-gawd New York Yankees after all. They are supposed to win.
But standing in their way this evening is the left arm belonging to Lee, the same guy who stifled them in the 6-1 win to open this Series. Lee struck out 10, his second consecutive 10-K performance this postseason. He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two playoff assignments, with just two scoring in four starts so far.
Lee is in a groove, and I'm not going to bet against him. I can't say when his streak is going to come to an end, and neither can you.
The total opened at 8½ and if you like Lee to continue his run then you pretty much have to go with the Under. I'm looking for something like a 4-2, 3-2 type game for Philadelphia to extend this World Series behind Lee, and also extend FOX's nauseating broadcast by at least one game back in New York. All signs point to a Pedro Martinez, Andy Pettitte pitching matchup for Game 6, and I can't wait to hear Joe and Tim mention several times how the game has the feel of a Yankees, Red Sox game.
STARTING PITCHERS
Game 5, Mon, Nov 2, 7:57 p.m. (ET): A.J. Burnett (21-12, 4.04 regular season / 3-1, 3.55 postseason) vs. Cliff Lee (16-18, 3.22 overall regular season / 4-0, 0.54 postseason)
UMPIRE
With 27 seasons and over 3,300 regular season games under his belt working major league games, veteran Dana DeMuth will have the plate for just the fourth time in a World Series on Monday night in Philadelphia. His last World Series game under the mask was Game 6 of the 2001 matchup between the Yanks and D-Backs, a 15-2 win for Arizona.
His most recent playoff contest behind the plate was the opener of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Cardinals, a 5-3 win for Los Angeles at home.
DeMuth's 2009 stats included a 19-16 Home/Visitor mark and 16-17-2 O/U (9-11 when the total was 8½-10).
WEATHER
Rain should not be a factor for Monday's Game 5 at Citizen's Bank Park with forecasters listing just a 10%-20% chance in the Philadelphia area for the day. and evening. Skies will be cloudy, but should start to clear as the game progresses. Look for a first pitch tem around 50ºF with winds out of the North at 5-10 MPH (in from center).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com and of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
A three-run outburts in the ninth on Sunday gave the Yankees a 7-4 win in Game 4 and 3-1 lead over the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. With their backs to the wall and needing three straight wins now to defend their 2008 title, Philadelphia will turn to their postseason hero in Game 5 to bail them out and extend the MLB season at least one more game when they send Cliff Lee to the mound against A.J. Burnett.
On Monday night, Philadelphia will send their miracle worker to the mound. Good thing since they're down 3-1 to the Yankees in the World Series and will need something of a miracle to defend their 2008 title.
The Yankees face a tall order in Game 5
if they're going to nail down the Series
New York inched closer to their 27th World Series Championship with a 7-4 win on Sunday in Game 4. The Yankees broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth when they plated three runs off Phils closer Brad Lidge, the winning rally ignited by an Alex Rodriguez double, capped by a two-run Jorge Posada single and closed out by yet another postseason Mariano Rivera.
But as close as New York is to its 27th Fall Classic win, they're not favored to get it in Game 5 on Monday when they take on Phillies ace Cliff Lee. The line opened with Lee and the Phils -140 favorites against New York who will have Game 2 winner A.J. Burnett on the mound.
For once the Yankees have the line value as the +130 dogs. Burnett was magnificent in Game 2 back in New York, going seven innings and striking out Nine will giving up just four hits in the 3-1 win.
That +130 looks even sweeter after the offense has awakened the past two games with eight and seven runs coming home. Rodriguez has provided the key blows in both games, his home run off the camera in Game 4 starting New York's comeback after trailing 3-0 early in the game and his RBI double last night driving in the game winner.
Nick Swisher has reached base four times the last two games, scoring three runs, and Johnny Damon is coming off a three-hit effort on Sunday. This is the lineup that produced the most runs during the regular season, and they're looking every bit the part right now.
This is the by-gawd New York Yankees after all. They are supposed to win.
But standing in their way this evening is the left arm belonging to Lee, the same guy who stifled them in the 6-1 win to open this Series. Lee struck out 10, his second consecutive 10-K performance this postseason. He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two playoff assignments, with just two scoring in four starts so far.
Lee is in a groove, and I'm not going to bet against him. I can't say when his streak is going to come to an end, and neither can you.
The total opened at 8½ and if you like Lee to continue his run then you pretty much have to go with the Under. I'm looking for something like a 4-2, 3-2 type game for Philadelphia to extend this World Series behind Lee, and also extend FOX's nauseating broadcast by at least one game back in New York. All signs point to a Pedro Martinez, Andy Pettitte pitching matchup for Game 6, and I can't wait to hear Joe and Tim mention several times how the game has the feel of a Yankees, Red Sox game.
STARTING PITCHERS
Game 5, Mon, Nov 2, 7:57 p.m. (ET): A.J. Burnett (21-12, 4.04 regular season / 3-1, 3.55 postseason) vs. Cliff Lee (16-18, 3.22 overall regular season / 4-0, 0.54 postseason)
UMPIRE
With 27 seasons and over 3,300 regular season games under his belt working major league games, veteran Dana DeMuth will have the plate for just the fourth time in a World Series on Monday night in Philadelphia. His last World Series game under the mask was Game 6 of the 2001 matchup between the Yanks and D-Backs, a 15-2 win for Arizona.
His most recent playoff contest behind the plate was the opener of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Cardinals, a 5-3 win for Los Angeles at home.
DeMuth's 2009 stats included a 19-16 Home/Visitor mark and 16-17-2 O/U (9-11 when the total was 8½-10).
WEATHER
Rain should not be a factor for Monday's Game 5 at Citizen's Bank Park with forecasters listing just a 10%-20% chance in the Philadelphia area for the day. and evening. Skies will be cloudy, but should start to clear as the game progresses. Look for a first pitch tem around 50ºF with winds out of the North at 5-10 MPH (in from center).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com and of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
