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Live at five
By egrissom | November 3, 2009
The Yankees went down fighting in game five and the Phillies lived to fight another day. Just barely, though. The Phils took an 8-2 lead into the top of the eighth, but things got real close real fast. The Yankees scored three in the top of the eighth and brought the tying run to the plate twice in the ninth inning. Ryan Madson came through both times, though, getting Derek Jeter to ground into a huge double-play the first time and striking out Mark Teixeira to end the game the second.
The Yankees jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run off of Lee in the first on an RBI-double by A-Rod. The Phillies jumped ahead in the bottom of the first, though, as Rollins and Victorino both reached ahead of Utley and Utley blasted a three-run homer to put the Phils up 3-1. The Phils chased New York starter AJ Burnett in the bottom of the third. Utley and Howard started the inning with walks and the Phillies wound up scoring three times in the inning to extend their lead to 6-1. Lee walked pinch-hitter Eric Hinske with one out in the top of the fifth and Jeter followed with a single that moved him to third. Hinske would come in to score on a ground ball by Damon to cut the Phillies lead to 6-2. Utley and Ibanez both hit solo homers off of lefty Phil Coke in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-2. Lee came back to start the eighth and gave up single, double, two-run double to the first three men he faced. It made the score 8-4 with a man on second and Park took over. He set three in a row down, but the second was a sac fly that brought A-Rod in from third and made it 8-5. Lidge had thrown 30 pitches in a miserable outing in game four, so it was Madson on in the ninth to try to protect the three-run lead. A double and a single put men on first and third and brought Jeter to the plate as the tying run. Madson got Jeter to hit into a double-play as Posada scored to make it 8-6. Damon followed with a single that brought Teixeira to the plate as the tying run. Madson got him, though, striking him out swinging at a 1-2 pitch to end the game.
It sure seems like the bullpen blew up in the game for the Phillies. But it wasn’t that bad, really. A lot of it was Lee and he has clearly done enough already. I think we just have game four stuck in our minds. Pitching for the second time in two days, Park faced three men and got three outs. Throwing a day after he threw 20 pitches, Madson gave up a run on three hits but got the huge double-play and the huge strikeout when he needed it.
They are still pretty scary. Especially given that we’re sure to see them a lot in game six. I think Manuel will still use Lidge in big situations in the series.
But the Phillies are still alive. They are going to need a ton of runs to keep winning, though. They are going to need everyone in the lineup — not just signs of life but a river of life. There were some signs last night. Ibanez and Howard came into last night’s game without a walk or a homer. Howard walked twice and Ibanez blasted a long homer. As miserable as the series has been for Howard, he still may be the single most explosive player in the series for either team. Let’s hope he doesn’t wait too much longer, though, cause the Phils have put themselves in a pretty big hole.
I’m pretty sure that Hamels starts game seven if there is one. Enough has been made of his misspeak. If you don’t think Hamels wants to compete and wants to win, I disagree. You don’t get this good and this far without wanting both. Saying what you mean isn’t a requirement.
The Phillies trail the Yankees three games to two in the World Series after winning game five last night 8-6.
Cliff Lee got the start for the Phillies and went seven innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks. Three of the hits went for extra-bases, all doubles. He struck out three. He pitched a lot better than his line, taking an 8-2 lead into an eighth inning that he started having thrown 103 pitches.
That may be the end of the ‘09 post-season for Lee. It’s a shame that the eighth inning last night blew up his line, cause it’s going to mean that his numbers, while still amazing, won’t quite reflect just how much he contributed. We’ll just have to remember. In five post-season starts this year Lee has gone 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and an 0.82 ratio. In five starts he threw 40 1/3 innings. That’s more than eight runs per game. There’s a chance his efforts may still make him a champion. Whether they do or not, he may have to wait till he’s a free agent in 2011, but I think they made him a whole lot of money.
He faced a Yankees lineup that went (1) Jeter (SS/R) (2) Damon (LF/R) (3) Teixeira (1B/S) (4) Rodriguez (3B/R) (5) Swisher (RF/S) (6) Cano (2B/L) (7) Gardner (CF/L) (8) Molina (C/R). Molina in the lineup to catch Burnett with Posada on the bench. Gardner takes over in center for Cabrera, who has a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Ramiro Pena. To take Posada out of the lineup for Molina is a poor idea even if Burnett doesn’t allow six runs in two innings.
The Yankees had five players on their bench to start the game, righty Jerry Hairston, switch-hitters Posada and Pena and lefties Hideki Matsui and Eric Hinske.
Jeter led off the game and grounded to Utley on a 1-0 pitch for the first out. Damon dumped a 1-1 pitch in front of Victorino for a single. Teixeira got ahead 3-0, but flew to right for the second out. Rodriguez hit a 1-1 pitch into the right field corner for a double that scored Damon and put New York up 1-0. Swisher walked on four pitches to put men on first and second. Cano flew to left on a 1-0 pitch to end the frame.
Didn’t look like the same Lee in the first. Jeter’s ball was up the middle and took a nice play by Utley to get an out. A-Rod smoked the ball. Swisher and Teixeira both got ahead 3-0. Lee threw 20 pitches in the inning.
He started the second up 3-1 and didn’t have much trouble with the bottom of the order. Gardner grounded to first 1-2 for the first out. Molina grounded to third on a 2-2 pitch. Burnett struck out looking 2-2 to set the Yankees down.
Lee threw 14 pitches in the inning and had thrown 34 for the game.
Jeter grounded to third 2-2 for the first out of the third. Damon walked on five pitches. Teixeira hit a ground ball to third and Feliz threw to second to force Damon for the second out, but the Phils could only get one. A-Rod flew to center on an 0-1 pitch for the third out.
Fifty pitches in the game for Lee after throwing 16 in the inning.
Swisher lined a 2-1 pitch to third for the first out of the fourth. Cano grounded to second and Gardner grounded to short.
Lee was up to 62 after throwing 12 pitches in the inning.
With Burnett out of the game, Posada hit for Molina to start the fifth and grounded to second 1-2 for the first out. Lefty Eric Hinske hit for the pitcher David Robertson next and Hinske drew a walk on five pitches. Jeter followed with a single to right that moved Hinske to third. Damon was next and he hit a 1-1 pitch slowly to first. Howard took it and when he started towards the bag Hinske took off for homer and scored to make it 6-2 with two outs and Jeter on second. Teixeira flew to right for the third out.
14 and 76 for Lee. Nice base-running by Hinske, both to go first to third and to delay and then score on the ground out to first.
A-Rod flew to right to start the first out in the sixth. Swisher flew to center for the second. Cano singled to center 1-0, but was left stranded when Gardner struck out looking 1-2.
Lee was at 91 after 15 pitches in the inning.
Posada struck out looking 0-2 after trying to call time out but not getting it earlier in the count to start the seventh. Jerry Hairston hit for the pitcher Alfredo Aceves and he flew to center on a 3-1 pitch for the second out. Jeter lined softly to Utley 1-2 to end the frame.
Twelve pitches in the inning had Lee at 103.
He was up 8-2 when he started the eighth. Francisco was playing center with Victorino on the bench. Damon led off and reached on an infield single. Teixeira was next and he blasted a double to left that moved Damon to third. A-Rod was next and he hit Lee’s first pitch hard into left-center. Ibanez made a diving effort but had the ball go off of his glove for a two-run double that made it 8-4. Park came in to pitch to Swisher having thrown 14 pitches the day before. Swisher grounded to second 2-2 for the first out, moving Rodriguez to third. Park stayed in to pitch to Cano. Cano hit a fly ball to shallow center 0-1 that Francisco took for the second out. Rodriguez tagged and scored to make it 8-5 with two outs. Francisco made a weak throw that wasn’t close to getting A-Rod on a ball that wasn’t hit deep. Gardner popped to Rollins on a 2-1 pitch to set the Yankees down.
Miserable inning for Manuel. Victorino was pleading to stay in the game. Francisco probably would have made the catch on A-Rod’s ball off the glove of Ibanez in left if he had taken over in left with Victorino in center. Francisco’s throw home was terrible. Victorino with a healthy hand would have made a much stronger throw — who knows after being hit. He also left Park in to face Cano as the batter that could have made the score 8-6. The Phillies didn’t use any of their three lefties in the pen in the game.
Madson started the ninth having thrown 20 pitches the day before. Posada led off and hit a 3-1 pitch off the top of the wall in right for a double. Lefty Hideki Matsui hit for the pitcher Phil Hughes. Matsui singled to left on a 2-1 pitch, sending Posada to third. Jeter got ahead in the count 2-0, but grounded a 2-1 pitch to short and the Phillies turned a double-play. Posada scored to make it 8-6 and it brought up Damon with two outs and the bases empty. Madson got ahead of Damon 0-2, but Damon singled into center on a 2-2 pitch to bring the tying run to the plate again. The game was delayed briefly for a ceremony to honor Damon’s 2,000th hit in this World Series. He was presented with some tupperware and a $50 gift certificate to Home Depot. Damon took second as the count went 0-2 on Teixeira. Teixeira struck out swinging 1-2 to end the game.
Park threw 11 pitches in the game and Madson threw 24. Both have thrown two days in a row, but both seem like they will surely be available in game six after an off-day today. Lee threw 112 pitches in game five and there’s no way you will see him in game six.
The so-called “official” stats suggest that Damon is only 8-for-21 in the series. He’s 5-for-his-last-9. Matsui is 5-for-9 in the series. Jeter 8-for-22. Posada 5-for-16. A-Rod just 4-for-18 but with six RBI to lead the team. Teixeira is just 2-for-19. Cano, Swisher and Cabrera are a combined 7-for-43.
The Phillies lineup against righty AJ Burnett went (1) Rollins (SS/S) (2) Victorino (CF/S) (3) Utley (2B/L) (4) Howard (1B/L) (5) Werth (RF/R) (6) Ibanez (DH/L) (7) Feliz (3B/R) (8) Ruiz (C/R).
The Phillies started the game with five players on the bench, lefties Dobbs, Stairs and Bako and righties Eric Bruntlett and Ben Francisco.
The Phils were down 1-0 when Rollins led off the bottom of the first. Rollins hit a 1-2 pitch into center for a single. Victorino was bunting, but Burnett’s first pitch to him was right at him and drilled him hard on the right hand. Utley swung at the first pitch and blasted it way out to right to put the Phillies up 3-1. Howard drew a walk, but Werth struck out swinging 1-2 for the first out. Ibanez was next and hit a ball hard, but Teixeira made a great diving play to take a hit away from him. Teixeira threw to first to force Howard for the second out, but Ibanez beat the relay to keep the inning alive. Feliz grounded to short 0-1 to end the inning.
Much different approach to Burnett in this game. Rollins, Utley, Howard and Feliz were all swinging first pitch. Utley hit a big home run on the first pitch of his at-bat. Howard drew his first walk of the series. Ibanez smoked the ball he hit. Burnett threw 23 pitches in the inning.
First home run of the series for the Phils with a runner on base.
Ruiz got ahead 3-0 to start the second but struck out swinging 3-2 for the first out. Lee swung at the first pitch and grounded to first. Rollins walked on five pitches. Victorino swung at the first pitch and popped out to short. He screamed and shook his right hand, the one that had been drilled in the first, after hitting the ball.
Second time Rollins had been on base in two at-bats.
After 13 pitches in the inning, Burnett was at 36 for the game.
Utley walked on a 3-1 pitch to start the third. He stole second as the count went 1-1 on Howard — Molina didn’t make a good throw, but Utley still would have been out if Jeter had been able to handle the short-hop on the throw. Howard walked to put men on first and second. Werth ripped a 1-2 pitch into center for a single. Utley scored and it was 4-1 with men on first and second. Ibanez hit a 3-1 pitch into right for a single. Howard scored and it was 5-1 with men on first and third. That was it for Burnett. Righty David Robertson came in to pitch Feliz. Feliz got ahead 2-0, but fouled out to Teixeira for the first out. Ruiz got behind 0-2 but managed to make contact, hitting a ground ball to short. Jeter got an out at second, but Werth scored and it was 6-1. Lee singled into right, moving Ruiz to second. Rollins struck out looking 1-2 to leave both runners stranded.
Nice job by Ruiz to bring the runner in from third with one out after getting way behind in the count.
Robertson set the Phillies down 1-2-3 in the fourth. Victorino grounded to second. Utley grounded to short and Howard struck out swinging 2-2.
They were up 6-2 when they hit in the fifth. Righty Alfredo Aceves was on to pitch for New York and he set the Phils down in order. Werth smashed a ball to left-center field that Gardner caught as he crashed into the wall for the first out. Ibanez grounded to first for the second and Feliz grounded to short.
Aceves was back for the sixth. Ruiz flew to right and Lee struck out swinging before Rollins singled to center. He went to second on a wild pitch before Victorino grounded to short to leave him stranded.
Third time Rollins had been on base in the game.
Lefty Phil Coke started the seventh for the Yankees. Utley led off and homered to right on a 3-2 pitch to put the Phils up 7-2. Howard struck out trying to check his swing 1-2 for the first out. Coke stayed in to pitch to Werth and Werth flew to center 2-0 for the second out. Ibanez blasted a 2-1 pitch out to right. 8-2. Coke was done. Phil Hughes came in to pitch to Feliz. Feliz struck out on three pitches to end the inning.
Utley’s homer gave him five home runs for the series, which tied him for the record with Reggie Jackson. Jackson hit five in 1977. When Howard followed with a strikeout it was his twelfth of the series, which also tied him for the record. The Phils lefties fared pretty well against Coke.
Hughes was back to start the eighth with the Phillies lead cut to 8-5. Ruiz led off with a single and Stairs hit for Park. Stairs hit into a double-play on a 2-2 pitch to clear the bases. Rollins grounded to second.
Rollins was 2-for-4 with a walk in the game. The single to start the first after the Yankees pulled ahead in the top of the inning set the tone. He’s 5-for-19 with five walks and a .417 on-base percentage for the series.
Victorino was 0-for-3 with a brutal hit by pitch when he tried to bunt in the first inning. He’s 3-for-18 with two walks in the series. He says his hand is okay and he expects to start in game six. I don’t know how okay he could be after that, but hopefully the effects are minimal by Tuesday. The thoughts of Victorino out of the game, especially in a DH game against a lefty are kind of scary. With the players on the roster right now I think it would have meant Francisco in center and Bruntlett as DH (although I think Mayberry may have taken Victorino’s roster spot if Victorino couldn’t play).
Utley went 2-for-3 in the game with two home runs, a walk and four RBI. In the last two games he’s 4-for-7 with three home runs, a double and six RBI. 6-for-16 with a double, five home runs and three walks so far.
Howard was 0-for-2 with two walks in the game. 3-for-19 with two doubles and 12 strikeouts. 1-for-his-last-10 with six strikeouts.
Werth was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the game. 5-for-17 with two homers in the series.
Ibanez was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the game. Teixeira also took a hit away from him in the first on a ball he hit hard. He’s 5-for-20 with two doubles and a home run in the series.
Feliz 0-for-4 with a strikeout last night after a huge game in game four. 4-for-19 with a double and a home run in the series. Ibanez and Feliz have combined not to walk in 39 at-bats.
Ruiz was 1-for-4 with an RBI last night. 4-for-16 with two doubles and a home run in the set. He’s also walked three times.
Despite the early exit by Burnett, Robertson was the only pitcher to throw more than 20 pitches out of the Yankees bullpen. He threw 27. I think who the Yankees didn’t use in the blowout, most noticeably Rivera and Marte, might say a lot about who they have confidence in. I don’t think you’re going to see much of Coke against the Phillies lefties in game six if things are close.
No game today. Pedro and Pettitte tomorrow night.
Topics: 2009 World Series |
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I thought Howard started to make some adjustments to his mechanics that had him looking a little bit better at the plate as Game 5 wore on. Only walks to show for it, but it’s better than nothing. A little encouraging there.
More encouraging, I think, is Rollins heating up and Ibanez showing he can still crank one. Also encouraging was that it seemed like the batters as a whole really studied AJ’s first outing quite a bit and made the adjustments to hop right on him.
The Phils are giving up exactly 5 runs per game so far. If they don’t get better pitching than they have the rest of the way, I gotta think you hope the repeated 3 days rest the Yanks starters are getting start to take a toll. The Phils have shown they can adjust adequately to a pitcher’s stuff if they see him enough times and if you throw that together with Pettitte’s age, the fact he hasn’t thrown on 3 days rest yet this year, and the fact that he’s throwing on 3 days rest at all, I’m optimistic the boys should be able to at least get to him.
While the Phils bullpen feels like an adventure right now, the Yankees bullpen (aside from a certain closer who shall remain nameless so as to not grant him power) isn’t scaring anybody other than the Yankees.
I think you get to Andy early, get into that bullpen quickly, and wear everyone out for a (hopeful) Game 7. I’ve only seen C.C. Sabathia look uncomfortable pitching against one team in baseball. That team is the Philadelphia Phillies.
2 games in a row in New York is a tall order. There are some pretty tall guys on the Phillies.
How surreal would it have seemed at the start of the season that Pedro Martinez would be shouldering the hopes and dreams of all Phillies fans heading into an elimination Game 6 against the Yankees in New York? It’s a funny game.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Very interesting non-use of the lefties in the pen.. Eyre was warming and could have pitched to Damon, but Madson stayed in.
Kinda makes me wonder - does Charlie have a plan for Happ? Is that why he’s keeping him well rested? Might he get a Game 7 start, or be ready to take over once Hamels tries to go to the curveball and fails in the 5th?
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Just curious but how does Victorino not know that he was replaced before running out of the dugout? No one mentioned it to him? Kinda important information that he may want to know about before heading out of the dugout.
I agree, Roger. No way did anyone thing at the begining of the season that Pedro would be pitching game 6 of Series against the Yankees no less. I wonder if Vegas would have even taken a bet on that and what the line would have been….
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 am
I think everyone starting for the Yankees on short rest is a big boost for the Phils. Still in a big hole, though.
I just don’t know about Howard. I do think the Phillies need a ton of runs tomorrow and Howard is the guy I’d like to get hot and stay hot the most for the Phillies.
I think New York is going to stop pitching to Utley. Even if Howard continues to struggle that could be a little tough with Werth in the five-hold who hit two home runs off of Pettitte in his last start.
I don’t understand why the Phillies didn’t bring a lefty in to pitch to Cano in the eighth. Not bringing a lefty in to pitch to Damon in the ninth makes a little more sense to me, just cause it would have taken Madson, their best reliever, out of the game.
I think it would be a mistake for Happ to start game seven. I think you have to let Hamels. I do think it’s all hands on deck in both game six and game seven. I really think you could see just about anyone but Lee in six and anyone in seevn — Blanton, Happ, Myers seem like they could all be candidates to throw more than one inning. I think Pedro will be on a short rope for six and Hamels an even shorter one for game seven.
I don’t think they are going to use Bastardo at all, which makes me wish again they had put Condrey or Walker on the roster.
I was surprised that Victorino made it all the way out to center before learning he wasn’t in the game anymore, too. Not sure how that happened. Francisco’s throw was weak. I think when Werth, Ibanez and Francisco are in the outfield the Phils may be better off with Werth playing center and Francisco in right.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I was a little miffed during Damon’s ceremony that he didn’t give any thanks to the Phillies pitchers. I mean, what about all the little people along the way?
Important game last night, obviously. Nice to see that when the first two guys get on base and you have Utley, Howard, and Werth up with nobody out, that they could actually score some runs. Also nice to see them get out early.
Tomorrow could be interesting. Would love to see the Phils jump all over Pettite and get him out of the game early, and then continue to do well against the Yankees pen. 2 runs in 6 innings last night was a bit disappointing.
Utley has just been amazing this WS. Howard has also been amazing, but for (duh!) different reasons. The week off clearly hurt him as he’s just not seeing the ball nearly was well as he was in the LDS and LCS.
I felt very confident going into game 5 that the Phillies would not let the Yankees win it in Philadelphia. Having Lee throwing helped that a lot too. I feel strangely optimistic about getting to a game 7 too.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
The Phillies have a long way to go if they’re going to win this series and the Yankees offense is so good I’m going to be surprised if they don’t score some runs tomorrow. I think if I were a Yankees fan I would be a little worried about Pettitte on short rest, though.
A big difference between game five and game six looks like it will be the off-day right after. If the Phils hammer Pettitte early and go deep into the bullpen in six and hold on to win, it could have big consquences for the New York pen in seven. Same is true for Pedro, of course, but at least he’s not going on short rest.
I agree that Damon could have at least mentioned the pitchers. Maybe he’ll share the tupperware.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Fair point that you don’t want to get Madson out of the game.. but then, 3 different people stood up in the pen and starting warming. Myers, Eyre, Lidge. Why get them going when you are leaving Madson in, no matter the situation?
In other words, if you’re going to treat him like a closer, well, then treat him like a closer..
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I think that’s a good point. I don’t know what Manuel was thinking or why he did it like he did or had all those guys up if he wasn’t going to use them.
The Jeter DP changed the inning. When Jeter came to the plate, the only result of his at-bat that would not mean Damon was going to come to the plate as the tying run was for him to him into a double-play. Even if Jeter strikes out it’s still two men on, one out and Damon at the plate as the tying run. With the score 8-6 and the bases empty Damon can’t tie the game. I don’t know if it would have been Eyre vs Damon if Damon was the tying run, but I guess it would have been. After Damon you’ll need someone besides Eyre for A-Rod for sure and who knows what they would have done with Teixeira.
Again, no idea. Guessing.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Luckily, we didn’t have to find out.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I actually hadn’t thought about it until Jim brought it up, but now I kinda want to know what Manuel would have done if Jeter hadn’t hit into a double-play and Damon was the tying run. I bet it still depends on what non-DP thing Jeter did. Pop out to the catcher is probably handled differently than three-run homer to tie the game.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:41 am
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