Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Chase Utley clubbed a pair of homers, tying a World Series record in the process, and Cliff Lee pitched into the eighth inning, as the
Philadelphia Phillies held off the
New York Yankees, 8-6, to force Game 6 in the World Series.
New York's lead in the best-of-seven set was trimmed to 3-2 and the Yankees are headed back to the Bronx to try and win an unprecedented 27th World Series title. The next contest is Wednesday night with a possible seventh contest Thursday.
Utley belted a three-run homer in the first inning off A.J. Burnett and then delivered a solo blast off Phil Coke leading off the seventh. His five homers in this set ties ex-Yankee Reggie Jackson for the most hit in one World Series. Jackson accomplished the feat in 1977 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies nearly wasted an 8-2 lead. Down 8-5 in the ninth, the Yankees put men on first and third against Ryan Madson with no outs in the ninth inning, but came away with just one run when Derek Jeter grounded into a double-play. Johnny Damon then battled back from an 0-2 count and singled up the middle, but Mark Teixeira struck out swinging to end the game as Madson barely earned the save. Alex Rodriguez, who drove in three runs Monday, was left on deck.
Raul Ibanez knocked in two runs, including a mammoth 420-foot homer off Coke in the seventh, as the Phillies kept their hopes intact of becoming the first repeat champion in the National League since Cincinnati in 1975-76.
Lee (2-0), who sparkled with a complete-game win in the series opener, allowed seven hits and five runs over seven-plus frames.
Burnett (1-1), the second straight Yankee to start on three days' rest, was knocked out of the game with no outs in the third. He allowed four hits and six runs, walked four and had a pair of strikeouts. It was a sharp contrast to the Game 2 win for the righty, when he threw seven strong innings.
Rodriguez, who had the go-ahead hit with two outs in the ninth inning of a 7-4 victory Sunday night, has 18 RBI in this postseason, passing Bernie Williams (1996) and Scott Brosius (1998) for the most by a Yankee in a single playoff year. They each had 15.
Managers from both sides didn't announce a potential Game 6 starter prior to Monday's game, but the Phillies are likely to pitch Pedro Martinez, while New York could go back to Andy Pettitte on three days' rest.
