Series starters have ties to Willis

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Sabathia has Yanks ready to pop cork

Put the bubbly on ice for the first clinching celebration at the new Yankee Stadium.

With another dominant performance by CC Sabathia, the New York Yankees' magic number for winning the AL East is down to one.

"We've got a lot of work left to do," Sabathia said after smothering the Boston Red Sox by allowing just one hit over seven innings in a 3-0 victory Saturday. Then the big man quickly added: "It feels good right now."

The Yankees have World Series title No. 27 in their sights

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a Philadelphia Phillies fan say that they wanted to play the New York Yankees in the World Series over the last couple of weeks, I'd be a rich man.

In the back of my mind, though, I kept thinking, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.

These are not the playoff neophyte Tampa Bay Rays, who seemed to just be happy to be there a year ago. This time around the Phillies will be taking on a team that is as synonymous with October as picking pumpkins and falling leaves. These are the New York Yankees, 26-time world champions, who will be making their 40th trip to the World Series.

New York Yankees (9-3) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-4), 8:20 p.m.

CC Sabathia starts on short rest this evening when the New York Yankees try to take a commanding lead in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 at Citizens Bank Park.

New York grabbed a 2-1 advantage in this best-of-seven set on Saturday, as Nick Swisher went 2-for-4 with one of the Yankees' three homers in the 8-5 win.

The Yankees had scored just four runs in the first two games combined, having been shut down by Cliff Lee in a Game 1 loss before scraping out a win against Pedro Martinez in Game 2 thanks to a superb effort by A.J. Burnett.

Yankees will start Sabathia in Game 4 of World Series

As expected, Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced Saturday that CC Sabathia will start Game 4 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Just a day after Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced that Joe Blanton would start Game 4, Girardi said he would let his ace pitch on three days' rest for Sunday's game. Philadelphia opted against the same strategy, choosing instead to start ace Cliff Lee for Game 5 on normal rest.

Sabathia will be pitching on short rest for the second time this postseason, having done so for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Angels. He was spectacular in that contest, giving up one run on five hits in eight innings in earning the win.

Vols recruit commits to UNC

On his way out of Tennessee on Tuesday, former Volunteers football coach Lane Kiffin hoped to re-route a prized recruit to join him at Southern California.

Instead, Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes High defensive lineman Brandon Willis switched his commitment to North Carolina.

Coming off a 127-tackle, 13-sack season, Willis is the No. 8-ranked defensive tackle in his national recruiting class, according to Scout.com . He has enrolled already for the spring semester at UNC and will start classes this week.