Wrapping up a game that put the Yankees in control
Two numbers that standout after tonight’s game: Seven and Zero.
Seven different Yankees had a hit. Nick Swisher was the only one with two. A lineup that hasn’t been especially good this postseason scored its second most runs of the playoffs, and scored them on night when the Yankees fell in an early hole and needed to put some runs on the board. It started with Alex Rodriguez’s replay home run, included Andy Pettitte’s first postseason RBI and finished with Hideki Matsui coming off the bench for a pinch hit homer.
“It’s always good when more guys contribute,” Johnny Damon said. “But Alex really got us going with that home run.”
Zero Phillies left-handers — other than Cole Hamels of all people — had a hit. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez combined to go 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts. Against Pettitte they were 0-for-9 with six strikeouts. On a night he didn’t have his best stuff, Pettitte was able to lock in against the best hitters in the Philadelphia lineup. Pettitte actually said he was fortunate to have those lefties in the lineup because he could after them with cutters.
“I can’t remember winning a game, I may have, but I can’t remember winning a game where I’ve struggled like I did tonight,” Pettitte said. “It’s very gratifying to be able to go out there and just battle through it. Really that’s all. I knew where I was when the game started. I knew after the first inning, even though I got through that first, the ball wasn’t going where I wanted it to exactly, and usually lately it has been. So it’s just going back to the dugout, talking to Dave and the guys and just trying to take it slow, take one pitch at a time and realizing it’s a long game, and hopefully that our offense could get clicking and get going.
“And we got going tonight, and that was a good thing to see.”
UPDATE: Here’s the Pettitte audio. It’s all good stuff, with a nice payoff at the end when he talks about Derek Jeter nearly catching him on the bases. This one comes highly recommended.





Sam Borden
Josh Thomson






go yanks!
I agree with John Kruk… even though the Phillies lost, they actually won because they forced MO in the game
Pettitte was huge tonight.
Compare his performance with Hamels’. One folded like a tent, while the other beared (bore?) down and finished 6 innings.
Have to put some runs on the board tomorrow for CC.
Who do you pitch Game 5 & 6? I don’t think Andy has another game in him this year?
“I agree with John Kruk… even though the Phillies lost, they actually won because they forced MO in the game”
Really? LOL.
The Phils can have all of those kinds of “wins,” I’ll take acually winning the game, however.
Mo was already warmed up in the pen. If Hughes retired the side, and Mo never entered the game, he still would have gotten up and got himself 90% of the way to actually pitching in the game.
If Girardi didn’t have him warming in the pen, then he should be fired.
Bringing in Mo to secure a WS victory is ALWAYS the right move.
You never know how tomorrow will go. CC could go the distance for all we know.
When you have a chance to nail down a playoff victory (especially in the WS), you MUST take it.
Isn’t it 1:09 AM EST?
if we do win the next 2 games, does anyone have any idea on when the parade would be, b/c my birthday is this thursday and that would be an awesome present.
Eric
November 1st, 2009 at 2:05 am
I agree with John Kruk… even though the Phillies lost, they actually won because they forced MO in the game
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They didn’t really force Mo into the game.
Did kruk really say that??? if so wow, talk about being a blind supporter.
I also love one of the captions on ESPn.com, the yankees “steal” one…what??? steal one? Dude, this Yankees team is HEADS AND SHOULDERS better then the Phillies.
Iv said it all along, if the Phillies played in teh AL EAST OR AL WEST they wouldnt make the playoffs.
The Phillies can pat themselves on the back during our parade… “… got Mo into all four of their wins!”
0o0oo0o and me living on the East Coast now means I will get to participate in the parade.
Phillies are not better then the Yankees, Redsox, Angels, Rays heck maybe not even better then the Rangers.
ALl season long they have had an inconsistant lineup, a very iffy bullpen and up untill Cliff Lee showed up suspect starting pitching. Now all that team is, is one really good not great starting pitcher and questionabl bullpen with a streaky lineup.
Those are all FACTS.
They forced Mo into the game …. then sat down in 5 pitches. Where’s Philly’s win?
John Kruk? He wasn’t as stupid when he was fat. What a homer.
I still am having a hard time believing it, did Kruk really say that?
They may have forced Mo into the game,but Lidge is a distant memory!
kruk,chew on that !!
If that’s the Phillie’s idea of a win, I can live with that.
I think they should have an option for chat on here, besides the blog comments.. I think that would be fun..?
So a loss is a win? Huh? Mo threw 5 pitches. That’s half as many as he threw to Rollins in one at bat in game 2.
Eric, that’s nuts…..I’m sorry. Kruk needs to get his head out of his behind. Please – Mo threw 5 pitches, but even if he threw more, the YANKEES won the game. There are at most 7 games in the WS – every game is precious. This series is not at all over, but the Phils didn’t win jack tonight.
the way joe buck characterized a-rod’s homerun in his game wrap-up, you would think the yankee’s stole it. he said the home run was a “discretionary” umpire call and implied that it was a dubious call at that.
I’m having a hard time believing Kruk is still on tv!
There is a lot of interference on the audio. Maybe you need to redownload it.
seriously, out of all the teams we played so far in teh playoffs I rank the Phillies behind the Angels and the Twins. Those two teams a much better balanced team then this philly team, no question.
there are no moral victories here kruk is talking out of his you know what. The phillies are in a 2-1 defecit with joe blanton going tomorrow. Oh also a guy named Charsten Charles is pitching tomrrow for the yankees. They have enough on their plate.
If the Yankees are up tomorrow Mo will pitch. He will also pitch if they need him to close it out. There is no tomorrow in the post season. If Mo has to go 3 days in a row he will. He has 4 months to rest.
“John Kruk? He wasn’t as stupid when he was fat. ”
He was fatter?
Kruk gives the phrase “The Biggest Loser” to a whole new level.
Discretionary? LOL I get amuzed when these Yankee haters call or analyze our games. It is so difficult for them to swallow that we are 2 games away from the WS title they will come up with anything to discredit it. lol
Maybe the Phillies are just really big Mo fans?
‘We got Mo into the game! Love that guy! We win!’
good news for Ryan Howard — CC is pitching tomorrow.
wait, what?
make that bad news for Ryan Howard
Oh, what a night!
Can’t wait until tomorrow. Redemption time for CC, you know he wants this (and to bat, too. haha).
Alex’s “homerun” (or whatever espn or Philly wants to call it) sure took the wind out of Phillies sails, huh?
And Andy! He battled through and helped his own cause. First pitcher to get an rbi since forever (’64?) and that was on a BB.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see it because I was I had the “privilege” of listening to espn radio. miller & morgan were appropriately enthused at the appropriate times.
And good for Swisher. missed most of the game (stupid holidays getting in the way), but I’m so happy for Andy and the gang.
I’d like to ask Kruk why should Alex be punished and only awarded a ground rule double becuase a camera was somewhere it shouldn’t have been?
Good point from MLB… Hanels even gave up a hit to Andy. LHP are supposed to somewhat shut down left hand batters, and he couldn’t even get Andy out.
you have to be BLIND to not see that the ball would have went over the fence if it wasnt for the camera. I like what McCarver said to Joe Buck about bringing Mariano into the game. He said I dont think there is a debate about it at all, this is the right move! lol
and it was!!! this is the WS dummy you cant go and give games away ugh.. i hate that guy.
If Mo coming into a game is a loss,I’ll take my chances with him!!
memo to John Kruk:
fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Kruk still listens to his inner mullet.
I didn’t see him …. what was the response to his brilliance?
The espn and fox are absoltuely pathetic with the things that they say. From the Arod homerun bs, to Kruk with Mo if he did say that. McCarver and Buck sounded like they wanted to cry when the Yanks won. Even in Arod post game conference he got 1 million questions about him “struggling”, come on it was only 2 games. Buck mentioned it 1 million times how he hasn’t gotten a hit. When Hamels hit him with a pitch one of those idiots said that is the 1st time in the series that Arod has reached base. How stupid.
lol, Kruk is the John Daly of sports television?
Mo threw 5 pitches
You know that CC was jealous of Andy’s double. Now he wants a homerun tomorrow to out do him.
Buck is a Cardinal fan,he will never say a good thing about the Yankees.
Typical midwest narrow minded thinkimg,it’s all about the MONEY the Yankees spend.
Kruk is a fool. So the Phillies get a victory because they were able to get Mo in the game and throw 5 pitches, lol !
Rollins doesn’t sound confident anymore. LOL ! That’s why you shouldn’t talk trash because a good team like the Yankees will make you look like a fool just like Torri Hunter.
seriously the phillies suck.
Jimmy Rollins = overrated
Shane Victorino = Decent player
Chase Utley = Very good player, can be pitched espacially vs lefties.
Ryan Howard = hit and miss, literrarly. a better version of Dave Kingman.
Raul Ibanez = After the torrid start anyone see his stats? UGH!
Jayson Werth = has come out of nowhere to put up good power numbers, decent hitter.
Pedro Feliz = “has the best throwing arm of any infielder” lol….
Carlos Ruiz = Decent defensive catcher, bad throwing arm, not a very good hitter.
They were comparing this lineup to the Yankees line up?????????
We all know about their starting pitching or lack there of…again please tell me how we dont win this series max 6 games?
I would be happy if CC just WIN,period.
If he hits great,but win!!
I agree with ya, 100 Pitches. Especially how every time A-Rod comes up they mention him struggling, but barely any word about Howard being 2-13 with 9 Ks
m
November 1st, 2009 at 2:22 am
Oh, what a night!
Can’t wait until tomorrow. Redemption time for CC, you know he wants this (and to bat, too. haha).
***Alex’s “homerun” (or whatever espn or Philly wants to call it) sure took the wind out of Phillies sails, huh?***
And Andy! He battled through and helped his own cause. First pitcher to get an rbi since forever (’64?) and that was on a BB.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see it because I was I had the “privilege” of listening to espn radio. miller & morgan were appropriately enthused at the appropriate times.
And good for Swisher. missed most of the game (stupid holidays getting in the way), but I’m so happy for Andy and the gang.
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I imagine that it put a lot of wind in their “sales” of beer, though.
Did ya know,Kruk has a Dun~lap?
That’s were his gut, dun lapped over his belt!!
Kruk’s tirade is hilarious… “I am not a disgruntled Phillies fan”
I loved hearing the “lets go yankees” and “jorge jorge jorge” chants, it was great.
I just watched the ESPN wrap-up (rerun) with Kruk blowing up.
Wow.
You’d think he bet dinner on the outcome of the game or something.
Following Saturday night’s Game 3 loss to the Yankees, Rollins was asked if he had any new predictions.
“Well,” Rollins said with a smile. “Phillies in six.”
So Kruk ranted about the camera and how it should be gotten right before the game in the WS, yet that is the point on having replays on HR calls, and the reason they have ground rules decided ahead of time?
I don’t get his rant, other than of course it being that his Phillies Phailed, and rather than rip on his team he has to say something to imply that it was a bad call that lead to them losing.
Everyone should be writing to nESPeeN to complain about his un-professional ranting. Totally uncalled for.
“Kruk’s tirade is hilarious… “I am not a disgruntled Phillies fan””-Kruk
That just admits what he is ha…maybe ESPN can hire guys that are not biased…even Ravach and Valentine had that ‘what’s Kruk’s deal’ look on their face
Don’t forget JD, guys. His 2 run RBI was HUGE also.
I just heard Kruk give a preview for tomorrow. He was rambling on. Something about CC pitching the way he did in the first game. Something about Yankees bats and then back to the way CC pitched in game 1. But I do know he said 3-1. So, I guess that’s a good thing?
DT: to answer your question from before, I don’t think that guy is a relative of Jorge’s; I think he might be Jorge’s clone.
I wonder where that William idiot who was talking trash before the series went. hmmmm
Who would’ve thought Nick Swisher would have the best line of the gam?
2-4,2B,HR,2R,RBI. He was the top performer.WOW!!
It’s sooooo good to see JD and Swisher begin to hit!
Next, it’s Cano’s turn.
It was so funny how the loser Phillies fans thought they were cool with their steroids chant like it would really bother Andy. They did it for like 2 innings straight and then realized it didn’t faze him one bit so they got bored and finally shut up. Also what happened to our fans don’t leave early??
CC pitched great in game 1,giving up 2 runs.The pen allowed the others.Utley loved him some CC!
Just so people aren’t misled, there has been incorrect info about Bouton’s 1964 World Series RBI. Bouton did NOT get his RBI with a walk. Bouton hit a two-out single to center in the fifth inning to knock in Tom Tresh and tie the game at 1-1. Not sure how people can get that wrong, but they did. It seems to me you either look it up and get it right or keep silent about it.
“DT: to answer your question from before, I don’t think that guy is a relative of Jorge’s; I think he might be Jorge’s clone.”
This is big. This could tip the scales substantially.
Molina has brothers, but I don’t think he has a clone.
Advantage Posada.
“@hbryant42 After Game 1, Phillies fans questioned the lack of commitment from Yankee fans, but in an 8-4 game, LOTS of folks are heading for the exits. about 2 hours ago”
Good ol’ Phillies fans! Arrogant AND hypocritical!
Its not quite fair that Alex didn’t have much chance to swing the bat. Amazing that the Phillies pitchers seem to keep hitting him.
” Bouton did NOT get his RBI with a walk. Bouton hit a two-out single to center in the fifth inning to knock in Tom Tresh and tie the game at 1-1.”
Well if Bouton had written a book called RBI:Single instead of Ball Four there would be less confusion.
Obnoxious Levels:
#1 – Phillies Fans
#2 – Red Socker Fans
Phillies won something today, they just moved up the Obnoxious Fans standings.
Actually the first 2 innings,Andy threw 51 pitches,just saying.
Dt: that’s an advantage? Apparently Jorge Posada is the weak link for the entire franchise. If his clone gets in, we might not see #27 for another 15 years.
Now Rollins says that the Phillies will win in 6. He is making a fool of himself. The Yankees are not the Mets or some other weak NL team. I think the Angels could beat the Phillies.
Rollins and the rest of his team should keep there mouths shut.
Rollins: “Phillies in 8!!!”
I live in atlanta. I’m a girl from Alabama and I went as mariano for halloween. I cannot tell you the people I shut down tonight. Great times. Let’s go Yankees!!! Clap clap clapclapclap!
I wanna ask a dumb question. What does OPPC stand for?
I google it, the first result is OHIO PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL.
LOL
Kruk is an idiot Mo threw only 5 pitches it is not a big deal. Because he was already warmed up. The yanks did somewhat rest Mo tonight because he only needed to get 2 outs with a 3 run lead. He threw low stress pitches and he had a day off yesterday.
And Joba hasn’t been as bad in the postseason as some people are making it out to be. He has only given up 1 earned run and he has not given up any inherited runners. He struggle in a game in anaheim. But other than that he is pitched well this postseason.
Not a single warning for either pitcher that hit Alex.Kruk didn’t mention that did he?
TheHig, welcome. I used to date an Alabama girl who was in med school in Emory. I guess there’s more than one!
“Nick in SF
November 1st, 2009 at 3:05 am
Rollins: “Phillies in 8!!!””
LMAO.
Rollins guarantees the first Clearwater Spring Training game is in the bag.
Nick – the clone gives Posada backers a huge advantage.
clutch Homer? – the real Posada
Failed to block a pitch? – the clone.
blocks the plate and tags out runner? – the real Posada.
forgets how many outs there are? – the clone
Jeremy
November 1st, 2009 at 3:03 am
Now Rollins says that the Phillies will win in 6. He is making a fool of himself. The Yankees are not the Mets or some other weak NL team. I think the Angels could beat the Phillies.
Rollins and the rest of his team should keep there mouths shut.
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I agree Rollins is a clown he talks way too much. Also Manuel is a fool too. He was saying how in game 1 the yankee fans left after the 8th and phillie fans dont do that. Well tonight I saw a lot of empty seats in the 9th inning because they were down by 4. I heard more yankee fans chanting than philly fans in the bottom of the 9th.
Tag-team AJ Burnett beatdown?
The real Posada and the clone.
Yeah it got silent once the yankee offense came back and the pitching shut them down. Yeah those Philly fans are really great, lol !
I think CC was harder on himself than anyone. 7 innings 2 homeruns is a good line, and he had no run support.
But he’ll tell you (and he did) that he was behind all night. You know he wasn’t happy with his performance.
The winner of game 3 in a tied series has gone on to win many of the times. Hope it holds true.
They hit Alex twice?!
“I wanna ask a dumb question. What does OPPC stand for?
I google it, the first result is OHIO PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL.”
OPPC stands for Official Positive Posters Club.
Forget Google.
You need to read the history books. There was a famous battle. Yankee blood was shed. It all took place beneath the O’Neill banner on a clear sunny day in May 2009.
The OPPC fought and defended Yankee blogdom against the dreaded RISP. (Really Ignorant Stupid Posters)
No one ever eats fries and gravy without thinking of the great sacrifice these positive people gave.
I don’t care what anyone says.Mo wants another ring.Even if his arm is falling off,he will pitch.He never quits.
Kruk is far too emotional to give a coherent or rational analysis of what is going on in the World Series. ESPN shouldn’t allow him to be on Baseball Tonight when it comes to analyzing anything Phillies-related.
He was raising his voice in frustration that Howard and Utley weren’t producing, I thought he was about to pound the desk. His inner fan was really coming out, he has to tone it down because he is just making a fool of himself.
m November 1st, 2009 at 3:17 am
They hit Alex twice?!
_________________
Yes they did. He looked pretty ticked off the second time especially.
Kruk making a fool of himself is nothing new.
Know why I’m nervous? I nervous because I’m not nervous about Game 4.
Yeah,even shrinks need shinks when it comes to baseball passion in the postseason.
m
Alex was hit near the elbow,and on the leg.
m
ESPN didn’t mention that did they? Alex was a good sport just took the bases.
“I agree with John Kruk… even though the Phillies lost, they actually won because they forced MO in the game”
Yeah, they lost home field advantage and now they get CC in game 4 against a very hittable Joe Blanton.
Mo may not even have to pitch today.
But the Phillies won because Mo had to pitch. Worry about today, today and tomorrow tomorrow.
If Mo doesn’t have to pitch tomorrow did the Phillies gain anything today from Mo having to pitch?
XLJ – as a No. 1 fan of Joba I thank you for your summary of Joba’s pitching in the post season. He pitched very well today. Earlier someone posted that he didn’t trust Joba because he gives up runs. Not true. Wish fans would look up stats before making statements like that against a pitcher who could become the head of the rotation some day. Whether Joba has a bad day or a good one, I am always a fan. I do not give up on him. I would go so far as say that Joba could start game 5.
Poor Phil. All season people have had nothing but good to say about Phil. He did an excellent job in the BP. Now he has run out of steam and some fans are ready to toss him to the wolves. No loyalty.
A great win for Andy today – although I did start to look to the bp to see if anyone was warming up and realized it was only the 2nd inning! Andy is a true warrior – he regrouped and finished strong.
Phil just got tight,it hit him he’s in the WS,he’ll be ok,Joe will use him again.
I love the headline of this article on yahoo sports.
Pettitte helps Yankees with arm and bat.
Game 4 should be a cakewalk. Blanton…lol.
Game 5 could get dicey though. Lee on the mound, and this Burnett-special lineup:
Jeter
Damon
Teixeira
ARod
Cano
Swisher
Melky
Molina
Burnett
Lee will probably tear through the last 5 guys in that lineup.
When the Phillies clubhouse opened 10 or 15 minutes after the game, it was a strange sight to see Ryan Howard already showered and fully dressed. When reporters approached him, he snapped, “I’m going to get something to eat.” And when someone asked him if he was coming back to his locker, he said, “I may. I may not.” Then he threw up his hands and said, “Get away from my locker.” Howard did eventually return in a better mood. But his initial reaction smacked of the kind of frustration a star athlete and leader should not be expected to show in times of crisis. Clearly, the Yankees have gotten inside his head with the antidote to his power that he still hasn’t overcome: Breaking balls from lefthanded pitchers.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....z0Vapb0nMV
Phillie fans: A friend and I went to a Redskins – Phillie football game. My friend mentioned to me that the Phillie fans had shoved a Redskins fan dressed in an Indian headdress down the stairs, breaking his arm. He was like a mascot and elderly.
As the game settled in, the Redskins were winning.
Some Phillie fans about 15 rows below us had a white sheet with Phillie propaganda on it. People around us started throwing stuff at the sheet when it was held up. Why not, says I, I used to play ball. So I wadded up paper cups and tossed at the sheet and hit it every throw. My friend began to get nervous.
The Phillies got ahead and the “sheet fans” got really rowdy and loud. My friend suggested that we leave early and watch the game from a different location. I agreed with her and we left. I didn’t feel like being tossed down any stairs.
We were on a chartered bus and as we left the parking lot some of the tailgaters still there mooned us. Never went back to Phillie for any athletic events.
Just watched some highlights. Didn’t realize that Werth hit 2 homeruns off of Andy.
And Andy’s was one of the ugliest swings I’ve ever seen. And he was so excited that he tripped getting out of the box. And he almost got lapped. What a season and postseason it’s been for Andy. Amazing.
Jorge and Matsui (our base burners) are both hot, hot, hot!
Question for anybody out there with the answer: Why wasn’t Mo awarded a save? The Yankees won by only three runs.
Because there was already 1 out. So,no guarantee the tying run would come to the plate, which it never did.
anybody notice Swisher changed batting stance? Maybe he should stick to that.