The Yankees beat the Phillies in this game for one reason: A.J. Burnett. He was phenomenal in the game, and he went through the Phillies powerful lineup completely unfazed. Having said that, this was still a game that the Phillies could have won, which would have given them a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. Pedro Martinez was almost as good as Burnett, which is why he is my “hero” of the game for the Phillies. Martinez, who heard chants of “Who’s your Daddy” from the Yankees fans before he even stepped on the mound, pitched into the seventh inning and only gave up three earned runs, which would have been two if Chan Ho Park did his job. My “goat” of the game is Jayson Werth. Although it was early on in the game, Werth played a pivotal role in halting a potential Phillies rally. Werth led off the top of the fourth inning with a base hit to right, but then with Raul Ibanez batting, Jose Molina picked Werth off of first base for the first out of the inning. Ibanez then struck out, and Matt Stairs followed with a fly out to left. Werth was way off the first base bag, and that base-running mistake cost the Phils.
The Phils were up 1-0 at the time, and they could have extended that lead. Ironically, in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Mark Teixeira homered off of Martinez to make it a 1-1 ballgame. I also was not pleased with Charlie Manuel not sending Rollins and Victorino in the top of the 8th inning with one out and Chase Utley batting with a 3-2 count. Utley ended up hitting into a double play, thus ending the threat with Ryan Howard standing in the on-deck circle holding a bat. The Yankees ended up winning game two 3-1 because of their good starting pitching, a couple key hits, and a couple Phillies miscues. Nonetheless, the Phils got what they wanted at Yankee Stadium, a split, and they now have the home field advantage as the teams will travel to Philadelphia for the next three games. Friday is an off day, and then Saturday night, Cole Hamels will face off against Andy Pettitte at Citizen’s Bank Park for a crucial game three.
Topics: Chan Ho Park, Charlie Manuel, Chase Utley, Deck Circle, Double Play, Earned Runs, Home Field Advantage, Jayson Werth, Jose Molina, Mark Teixeira, Matt Stairs, Pedro Martinez, Phillies, Pivotal Role, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Seventh Inning, Three Games, Victorino, Yankee Stadium
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