•
Victorino plays Game 5 in pain
The Flyin' Hawaiian was almost grounded.
Shane Victorino squared to bunt when - Whack! - he was drilled on the right hand.
Victorino put a scare into the Philadelphia Phillies when he was hit by an A.J. Burnett fastball in the first inning. He shook his head and stayed in the game, scoring on Chase Utley's three-run homer.
•
Recap: NY Yankees vs. Philadelphia
Chase Utley became the first left-handed hitter since Babe Ruth to have a multi-homer game in the World Series off a southpaw pitcher, and Cliff Lee dominated the potent Yankees lineup in a complete- game gem, as the Phillies took Game 1 of the Fall Classic from New York, 6-1, at Yankee Stadium.
Lee (1-0) struck out 10, didn't walk a batter and scattered six hits and surrendered an unearned run in confusing the middle of the Yankees order and making several highlight-worthy defensive plays, including a behind-the-back stab on a grounder up the middle in the eighth for the defending World Series champions. He tossed the first complete game in the World Series since Florida's Josh Beckett threw a gem in Game 6 of the 2003 Fall Classic at Yankee Stadium.
"I definitely have confidence. I have always been that way. This is the stage I've wanted to get to since I was a little kid," said Lee.
•
Now we go back to the Bronx
You can argue all you want about whether or not Joe Girardi should have started A.J. Burnett on short rest on the road, or whether Charlie Manuel should have gone with Cliff Lee a day earlier than he did.
Either way, though, this series is headed back to the Bronx.
Wednesday will mark our first Game 6 since 2003 when the world was introduced to Josh Beckett, who tossed a five-hit shutout to eliminate the Yankees and clinch a World Series title that night for the Florida Marlins.
•
2009 World Series position-by-position breakdown
The Phillies, meanwhile, will be trying try to do something that no National League team has done since 1976, as they try to become the first repeat champion from the Senior Circuit since the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine teams in 1975-76.
After capturing their third straight NL East title, the Phillies started their title defense with a four-game victory over the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS, before disposing of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second straight year in five games of the NLCS.
Unlike last year, though, when they ran roughshod over a Tampa Bay Rays team that was in the midst of their first-ever postseason run, the Phillies will be facing a franchise that is synonymous with baseball in October in the Yankees, who will be appearing in their 40th Fall Classic.
•
Recap: NY Yankees vs. Philadelphia
Nick Swisher went 2-for-4 with one of the Yankees' three homers, which helped New York take an 8-5 win over the Phillies in a pivotal Game 3 of the World Series.
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.
However, New York took the win in Saturday's contest, which was delayed more than an hour because of rain, thanks to its offense. In addition, the Yankees took a key 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup. Nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-1 went on to take the title.
@Nyx.CommentBody@