Baseballisms 2009 Playoff Collection

New York Yankees vs.

Philadelphia Phillies 2009 World Series Game 5 It’s Deja Vu all over again for the Phillies! A strong pitching performance by Cliff Lee and two home runs off the bat of Chase Utley send this World Series back to New York for Game 6. Nothing could compare to the complete mastery of Lee’s Game 1, but he was able to scatter seven hits over seven innings, allowing 5 runs.

Utley’s contribution tied him with Reggie Jackson as the only players to have 5 homers in one World Series.

Yankees starter A.J. Burnett struggled on three days rest, couldn’t throw strikes and by the time he was unable to retire anyone in the 3rd inning, was responsible for 6 runs. It was the first time in 14 postseason games this year that a Yankees starter had failed to pitch at least six innings.

After Utley and Ibanez homers in the 7th off of Phil Coke to push the lead to 8-2, you would have thought this game could be a coast to the finish for the Phillies.

However, as stated going all the way back to the start of the postseason, getting the final six outs was going to be a challenge for this team. An ARod two run double and a sac fly from Robinson Cano in the 8th meant a six run lead was going to be a three run lead heading to the 9th. And that might not be enough.