PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Chase Utley rocketed a three-run homer and the win-or-else Philadelphia Phillies came out swinging, taking a 6-1 lead over the New York Yankees after three innings Monday night in Game 5 of the World Series.
Down three games to one, the defending champion Phillies gave postseason ace Cliff Lee a comfortable cushion. They battered A.J. Burnett, chasing him before he got anyone out in the third.
Needing only one more win for their record 27th championship, the Yankees struck first on an RBI double by Alex Rodriguez in the opening inning. His team-record 16th RBI of the postseason sent a few ``Let's go, Yankees!'' chants bouncing around Citizens Bank Park.
Then it was the Phils' turn. Their bats and fans got loud in a hurry.
Jimmy Rollins led off with a sharp single to center. He immediately took off for second base and moved up when Shane Victorino was hit by a pitch in the right hand while squaring to bunt. Victorino kept shaking his head, but stayed in the game after X-rays were negative.
Utley hit the next pitch deep to right field and the giant Liberty Bell high above the wall told the story. As it tolled, Utley quickly circled the bases with his fourth home run of this World Series, tying Lenny Dykstra's club record set in 1993.
The Phillies piled on three more in the third. Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez hit run-scoring singles and Carlos Ruiz had an RBI grounder. Lee added a single for good measure.
Lee and Burnett both won with gems last week, but the longtime friends from Arkansas were not nearly so sharp this time around. Lee wasn't in complete control of his slider while Burnett, trying to add to his 4-0 career record on three days' rest, was all over the place.
Lee walked two and struck out only Burnett. In Game 1, the lefty held the Yankees without an earned run while striking out 10 without a walk. Lee began the night with a 3-0 record and a 0.54 ERA in four starts this postseason.
Burnett excelled in Game 2, shutting down the Phillies on one run and four hits through seven innings. The Phils tagged him from the get-go in the rematch, and that started another parade of mound meetings for the Yankees - in Game 4, pitcher CC Sabathia got eight visits alone in a single inning.
Only six teams have overcome a 3-1 deficit in the World Series, with George Brett and Kansas City the last to do it in 1985 against St. Louis.
If Game 6 is needed, it will be Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium with Andy Pettitte pitching for the Yankees against Pedro Martinez.
The Yankees made a roster move before the game, replacing injured outfielder Melky Cabrera with backup infielder Ramiro Pena. Cabrera strained his left hamstring in Game 4, and Brett Gardner started Game 5 in center field.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
