NEW YORK—Chase Utley answered the bell emphatically with solo homers in the third and sixth innings against Yankees starter CC Sabathia, and the Phillies made them stand up for a 6-1 win in Game 1 of the World Series.
Phillies midseason acquisition Cliff Lee dampened the Yankees bats and the home crowd’s enthusiasm more than a couple of drizzly days leading up to the game possibly could. The bats of the Yankees, so loud during the postseason thus far, were silenced by Lee to the tune of 10 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit, a double by Derek Jeter.
Lee was throwing a four-hit, no-walk shutout until the ninth, when the Yankees made some noise. Jeter and Johnny Damon led off with singles. A force-out and a throwing error scored a run, but Lee went right after Yankee sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, inducing each to strike out swinging to finish off a complete game.
The Phillies added two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to put the game away against a parade of Yankees relief pitchers.
The Phillies loaded the bases on walks in the eighth and with two outs, Raul Ibanez singled in two. In the ninth, a Shane Victorino single and a Ryan Howard double each scored a run. Further scoring was stopped on a relay throw from right fielder Nick Swisher to second baseman Robinson Cano to catcher Posada to catch Victorino at home.
Game 2 will be Thursday at 7:57 p.m. EDT in Yankees stadium, with Yankee nemesis Pedro Martinez starting for the Phillies. The teams will have Friday off, with Games 3, 4, and 5 in Philadelphia Saturday through Monday.
Phillies midseason acquisition Cliff Lee dampened the Yankees bats and the home crowd’s enthusiasm more than a couple of drizzly days leading up to the game possibly could. The bats of the Yankees, so loud during the postseason thus far, were silenced by Lee to the tune of 10 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit, a double by Derek Jeter.
Lee was throwing a four-hit, no-walk shutout until the ninth, when the Yankees made some noise. Jeter and Johnny Damon led off with singles. A force-out and a throwing error scored a run, but Lee went right after Yankee sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, inducing each to strike out swinging to finish off a complete game.
The Phillies added two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to put the game away against a parade of Yankees relief pitchers.
The Phillies loaded the bases on walks in the eighth and with two outs, Raul Ibanez singled in two. In the ninth, a Shane Victorino single and a Ryan Howard double each scored a run. Further scoring was stopped on a relay throw from right fielder Nick Swisher to second baseman Robinson Cano to catcher Posada to catch Victorino at home.
Game 2 will be Thursday at 7:57 p.m. EDT in Yankees stadium, with Yankee nemesis Pedro Martinez starting for the Phillies. The teams will have Friday off, with Games 3, 4, and 5 in Philadelphia Saturday through Monday.
