Yankees take commanding 3-1 lead in World Series
Phillies ace pitcher Lee tries to keep team's championship dreams alive
Raymond Hupfer
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Sports
By Raymond Hupfer
Everyone always says it's pitching and defense, not offense, which wins championships. Coming into this World Series, I had my doubts. Two of the most potent offenses in baseball were squaring off against two rotations that each had one true ace, one enigma, and one solid third starter. But once again, it has been the pitching, not the offense, that has been the key to victory in each of the first four games of the 2009 Fall Classic.
Game 1: As a Cleveland Indians fan, it pained me to watch the 2007 and 2008 AL Cy Young Award Winners CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, both former Indians, square off, and it hurt even more watching the dominance of both. CC Sabathia was good, going 7 strong innings, allowing only two runs. But Cliff Lee was better, hurling a complete game, striking out 10 while only allowing one unearned run. Chase Utley's two solo homers provided the first two runs of the game for the Phils, and an implosion by the Yankees' bullpen allowed the Phils to take a 6-1 lead in the game and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2: Another pitching duel, but this time, it ended 3-1 in favor the Yanks. Pedro Martinez was sharp through six innings, allowing only two runs, striking out eight, but the Yankees' $82-million dollar man AJ Burnett was better. Burnett allowed only one run over seven innings, striking out nine. Home runs from Mark Teixeria and Hideki Matsui provided the Yanks' offense and when Mariano Rivera trotted onto the field, it was game over for the Phils.
Game 3: The nightmare of a postseason for Cole Hamels continued as he allowed five runs in less than five innings in an 8-5 loss. After posting a 1.80 ERA in last year's post season en route to being named the World Series MVP, Hamels' postseason ERA this year is 7.58. Alex Rodriguez's first hit of the World Series was a replay-reviewed two-run homer, and homers for Nick Swisher and Matsui helped Andy Pettitte overcome a pair of Jayson Werth solo homers to pick up his Major League record 17th career postseason victory.
Everyone always says it's pitching and defense, not offense, which wins championships. Coming into this World Series, I had my doubts. Two of the most potent offenses in baseball were squaring off against two rotations that each had one true ace, one enigma, and one solid third starter. But once again, it has been the pitching, not the offense, that has been the key to victory in each of the first four games of the 2009 Fall Classic.
Game 1: As a Cleveland Indians fan, it pained me to watch the 2007 and 2008 AL Cy Young Award Winners CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, both former Indians, square off, and it hurt even more watching the dominance of both. CC Sabathia was good, going 7 strong innings, allowing only two runs. But Cliff Lee was better, hurling a complete game, striking out 10 while only allowing one unearned run. Chase Utley's two solo homers provided the first two runs of the game for the Phils, and an implosion by the Yankees' bullpen allowed the Phils to take a 6-1 lead in the game and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2: Another pitching duel, but this time, it ended 3-1 in favor the Yanks. Pedro Martinez was sharp through six innings, allowing only two runs, striking out eight, but the Yankees' $82-million dollar man AJ Burnett was better. Burnett allowed only one run over seven innings, striking out nine. Home runs from Mark Teixeria and Hideki Matsui provided the Yanks' offense and when Mariano Rivera trotted onto the field, it was game over for the Phils.
Game 3: The nightmare of a postseason for Cole Hamels continued as he allowed five runs in less than five innings in an 8-5 loss. After posting a 1.80 ERA in last year's post season en route to being named the World Series MVP, Hamels' postseason ERA this year is 7.58. Alex Rodriguez's first hit of the World Series was a replay-reviewed two-run homer, and homers for Nick Swisher and Matsui helped Andy Pettitte overcome a pair of Jayson Werth solo homers to pick up his Major League record 17th career postseason victory.
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