MLB - Yankees One Game From the World Series Title

The New York Yankees are one game away from winning their 27th World Series title. Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies gave the Yankees a 7-4 victory and their third win in the series. A Game 5 win could then give them their first title since 2000, after a decade tinged with troublesome playoffs. 2009, however, has seen the Yankees in a whole new light. The Phillies, on the other hand, have suffered from inconsistency in key moments during the last three games of this series. The defending champions seem to be missing something, lacking a fervor that lost them three of the four games against the Yankees. The Yankees opened Game 4 swinging at the balls lobbed by Phillies starter pitcher Joe Blandon, with Derek Jeter opening his first turn with a single and Johnny Damon following with a double to right field. Mark Teixeira, the Yankees’ first baseman, sent Jeter home for New York’s first run. Alex Rodriguez reached base after he was hit by the pitch, the third time he’s been bruised in this World Series. And Posada drove in the Yankees’ second run after connecting for a sacrifice fly for Rodriguez. The flurry was followed with a run by the Phillies. With Jimmy Rollins making the first out, Shane Victorino doubled to central field and Chase Utley sent Victorino home by tying a double in right field. In the fourth, the hosts managed to tie the score with a second run. Ryan Howard opened the inning with a single to central field. Jayson Werth was the first out; Raul Ibanez sent the ball high to the right for the second out; and Feliz singled to score the Phillies’ second run and tie the score 2-2. At the top of the fifth inning, the Yankees came back to retake the lead on the scoreboard. Jeter drove in the Yankees’ first run of the inning by connecting a hit to left field that allowed Swisher to score the third run. Damon sent Melky Cabrera for the fourth run after hitting an RBI single to the right, putting the score at 4-2 in favor of the visitors. It was at the end of the seventh inning when, with two outs, the Phillies cut the lead to one run. Utley hit his third homer in the series and drew Philadelphia to 4-3. The end of the eighth brought even more drama, as Feliz managed a solo homer by beating Joba Chamberlain – C.C. Sabathia’s substitute – to tie the score at 4-4. The game seemed likely to move into an extra inning. It was the ninth inning, the Yankees already had two outs, and the score was still tied at 4-4. Then Damon hit a single and proceeded, in the same play, to steal second and third base. Teixeira then got to first after getting hit with the ball. Then A-Rod stepped up to plate, hit a double, and sent Damon home for New York’s fifth run. Posada smashed a single that sent Teixeira and Rodriguez home, giving the Yankees three more runs and setting the score at 7-4. The Yankees closed the game with Mariano Rivera, who shut out the Phillies to end the game at 7-4. The Yankees had opened with left-hander C.C. Sabathia, who pitched for six and two-thirds of an inning, allowing seven singles and three runs, all clean. Sabathia made six strikeouts and three walks. Phillies starter Blanton also worked six innings, allowing four runs, making seven strikeouts, and sending two walks. The Yankees now have a chance to clinch the title on Monday night, Game 5 of the Fall Classic. Monday is also the Phillies’ last chance for a shot at the title. They will send Cliff Lee forward, while the Yankees will respond with AJ Burnett.