Yankee bats show late life to earn Game 4 victory

November 2, 9:29 AMMLB ExaminerAlex Brown

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Johnny Damon is congratulated after scoring in the seventh inning

AP Photo/Rob Carr

With some timely hitting, smart baserunning, and the return of “2009 regular-season” Brad Lidge, the Yankees are one win away from a 2009 World Series victory. New York controlled Game 4 for all but a moment, when Pedro Feliz tied the game at 4-4 with a homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Ultimately, the Yankees would defeat the Phillies 7-4 in Game 4.

Yankee ace CC Sabathia took the hill on short rest and got the job done. He wasn’t dominant, but he got the job done, making good pitches and getting key outs in pressure situations. Ultimately his greatest accomplishment may have been shutting down Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez – when those guys are hitting, the Phillies become much more difficult to stop.

The Phillies sent Joe Blanton to the mound to face the Yankees, a move that is being questioned by some. Blanton kept the Phillies in the game however, allowing four runs over six innings of work and striking out 7 Yankee hitters. Still though, you have to wonder if the outcome might have been different had Charlie Manuel tapped Cliff Lee to pitch Game 4 on short rest.

The top of the ninth inning showed why the Yankees had baseball’s best overall record in 2009, and are likely to win the World Series. They are a veteran team that makes smart decisions, which was evident when Johnny Damon took third base after stealing second when he realized that nobody was covering the bag. They are also a clutch hitting team that capitalizes on ideal situations, such as Alex Rodriguez’s go-ahead RBI double – a product of Brad Lidge avoiding the slider with a runner on third base. Jorge Posada would deliver another veteran-like, opposite field base hit to bring home two insurance runs and seal the Yankee win.

Lee, the last symbol of hope for the Phillies, will pitch on Monday night against A.J. Burnett. Burnett pitched well in the Yankees’ Game 2 victory, but is going on short rest and is opposed by a guy who shut the Yanks down in Game 1. I look for the Phillies to receive another great performance on the mound tonight, and earn a stay of execution in the 2009 World Series.