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Game 1 winning pitcher Cliff Lee wears #34 in his Phillies uniform. AJ Burnett is also wearing #34 in his Yankees uniform.

And who will forget Nolan Ryan and Rollie Fingers?

AJ Burnett pitched for the Yankees in World Series Game 2  with a blast. The Yankees beat the Phillies on 3-1, tying the series on Thursday night in Yankee Stadium.

The Pie-Man of the Bronx was able to keep his goal for the game. "I won't change anything as far as my plan or my attack, just maybe not be so careless from the get go -- just throwing balls over the middle to get strike one," Burnett said.

The right-handed pitcher allowed 4 hits, 2 walks and just one run in seven innings. The run was from Raul Ibañez, who hit a double, driven by Matt Stairs' single, a ground ball to left field that was deflected by Alex Rodriguez in the second inning.

If the Phillies had a lot of runs in Game 1 on Wednesday, Thursday night gave them a lot of strikes and strikeouts. Burnett struck out  Raul Ibañez twice and Ryan Howard thrice. He struck out four other Phillies.

Burnett's favoured catcher was outstanding, not just in helping him with his pitches. Jose Molina, also a Puerto Rican, kept a runner from staying in the fourth inning. Jayson Werth hit a single on a full count but while Ibañez was batting, he was picked off by Molina at first base on a throw to Mark Teixeira. AJ Burnett only faced three batters in the fourth inning.

The Bronx Bombers hit two solo home runs. The Yankees' first homer in the World Series came off the previously shy bat of Mark Teixeira over the fence in the right centre field in the fourth inning. It was his first career World Series home run.

The other solo homer was provided my Hideki Matsui on a fly ball in the right field in the sixth inning. It was Godzilla's second career World Series home run.

When Jorge Posada was announced to pinch hit for Jose Molina in the seventh inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel left the dugout to get the ball from Pedro Martinez, the Phillies starter, and summoned Park Chan-Ho to face Posada who went 0-for-7 against him.

Pedro Martinez pitched for 6 innings and left the mound with 4.50 ERA. He struckout eight Yankees but allowed 6 hits and 3 runs.

A.J. Burnett may opt for Jose Molina to catch for him, but he was the number one cheerleader of Jorge Posada when the veteran catcher hit a single on a line drive to centre field driving in Brett Gardner, who was pinch running for Jerry Hairston, Jr., for another run. The run was charged to Pedro Martinez.

The Philadelphia Phillies were able to keep the remaining Yanks off the plate when Johnny Damon lined into a double play. Posada was out off first. They also caused a gathering of the umpires to discuss the play and call, which was questioned by Joe Girardi.

The Phillies were trying to rally more runs, but the goal seemed impossible as they had to face Mariano Rivera in the eight inning. Posada stayed in the game to replace Jose Molina.

The eight inning was quite a battle against The Sandman who drew the third walk for the Phillies with just one out. Shane Victorino, batting next, was able to hit a single on a ground ball to right field. The Old Guard closer was able to stay out of trouble when Chase Utley grounded into double play, Robinson Cano to shortstop Derek Jeter to Mark Teixeira. Shane Victorino was out at second base.

Ryan Howard was batting first in the ninth inning, but he never had the chance to have a base hit as he was struck out on 0-3 count by Mariano Rivera. The first baseman of the Phillies was totally shut out by Burnett and Rivera in his four at-bats.

After 38 pitches, Mariano Rivera struck out the eighth batter he faced on 2-2 count for the final out of the game.

The Yankees are off to follow the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 on Saturday night. Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees who will face Cole Hamels.




Also posted in Bleacher Report and MLBlog.

 

This was supposed to be just a blog entry, but it seemed like it's worth a post in b/r. I did post it there, marking my fourth post as a contributor. The link is here: The Yankees share history with the Mets in their 2009 Subway Series

But I'll still post the whole article, or supposedly blog entry, here.

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The New York Yankees are rising like a phoenix. And they keep making legends.

The Bronx Bombers won the first Subway Series of the season with 2 out of 3 against the Metropolitans. It was in the Yankee Stadium. And it was an unforgettable one, especially the ninth inning drama of the first game when A-Rod popped up his team's last chance to stay in the game. Then it would be the final out.

But it's Baseball. Anything can happen. And something happened.

The popped up ball went to Luis Castillo's glove, and it went through. He dropped the ball and Derek Jeter scored with Mark Teixeira coming off the first base. Jeter tied the game but with Teixeira's attitude, the Pinstripers won the game.

The Yankee first baseman is known for being an athlete who never gives up. He reached the home plate wondering what just happened as their captain embraced and congratulated him. A-Rod even called Teixeira his MVP of the night.

It was an unforgettable night for everyone who watched the game, be it in the Yankee Stadium or in their homes, or even in pubs. The Yankees won that night with 9-8 against the Mets.

The game that followed may have been meant for the Mets. They won 5-2 against the Yankees. But that was all for them. The game that followed on Sunday night was won by the Yankees, 15-0.

The second Subway Series was held in Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. But the Yankees were not bothered at all if it's not their home stadium. They only have one goal: win. And they did. There may be no more Castillo clutch but the Yankees swept the Mets with 9-1, 5-0, 4-2, respectively.

The first game was an astounding 18 up, 18 down by CC Sabathia. He only allowed three hits and one home run by Gary Sheffield, all in the fifth inning. The relief pitcher Brett Tomko was also amazing with his 6 up, 6 down in the last two innings.

The Saturday night game was also an splendid one. Starting pitcher AJ Burnet accomplished a record of 10 strike outs, 3 walks, 1 hit but no run. Brian Bruney pitched in the eight inning and David Robertson on the ninth. Each relief pitcher had 3 up, 3 down.

The Sunday night game may have allowed the Mets for 2 runs, but the Yanks still won. But what made this game memorable is it's part in Baseball history, at least to the Yankees' history. Maybe for the New York Mets also.

Mariano Rivera had his 500th save during the Sunday night game, marking him as the second with most saves next only to Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman who has 571 saves. Many Baseball players, team mates or not, consider Rivera as the best closer they've ever met.

The Sandman's career history didn't end there. It was also his third plate appearance and first walk slash first career RBI. The saving pitcher said, "The RBI is the best. It was my first RBI. It was my 500th save." His team mates probably thought the same. Everyone, especially Derek Jeter who is the captain of the Yankees, said nothing but praises for Mariano Rivera.

Mo was batting against Mets' Francisco Rodriguez, who was also the relieving pitcher when A-Rod had his pop up RBI to Luis Castillo. It's amusing how K-Rod's presence in the mound against the Yanks contributes to the Bronx Bombers' history. Perhaps it will also become part of the Metropolitans' history.

Mariano Rivera's force is recognized not only among his team mates. It extends to every batter who came to hit against him and to every one who knows him. He is not just a relief pitcher. His mere presence in the batter's box could even pull out every Yankee out of the bullpen and dugout, which rarely happens.

 

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Music: Metallica - Enter Sandman