Phillies win World Series opener
NEW YORK – Look out for Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and this New Red Machine.
Lee outdueled CC Sabathia, Utley homered twice and the Philadelphia Phillies kept rolling through October, beating the New York Yankees, 6-1, on a misty Wednesday night in the World Series opener.
The defending champion Phillies shut down Alex Rodriguez & Co. in the first Series game at the new billion-dollar Yankee Stadium. Trying to become the first NL team to repeat since Cincinnati in 1975-76, the Phils’ 17-4 postseason run is the best in league history.
Big Red Machine, meet your match.
“We have confidence,” Utley said. “We know we have a good team.”
Game 2 is tonight, with wily Pedro Martinez pitching for the Phillies against jumpy A.J. Burnett.
Ryan Howard reprised his MVP performance, doubling twice and driving in the final run for the Phillies. Rodriguez, however, went hitless and struck out three times in his Series debut.
The Phillies, 2-to-1 series underdogs, were in such control that many fans left before the final out.
Lee bamboozled the Yankees with a spiked curve-
ball, deceptive changeup and his usual pinpoint fastball, pitching a six-hitter while striking out 10 without a walk.
Lee blanked the Yankees until a run scored on shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ throwing error in the ninth inning. The lefty improved to 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA this postseason.
He really seemed to enjoy himself, too.
If Lee felt any anxiety in his Series debut, facing the team that led the majors in wins, homers and runs, it didn’t show. If the Phillies were supposed to be intimidated by the pictures of Babe Ruth and all the Yankees greats on the giant videoboard, it didn’t happen.
“To be honest, I really never have been nervous in the big leagues,” Lee said. “This is what I wanted to do my whole life. This is what I take pride in. For me there is no reason to be nervous.
“Game time is the time go out there and have fun and let your skills take over. It’s kind of weird. Boils down to confidence and trusting your teammates.”
Lee beat his good friend and former Cy Young teammate Sabathia in the first game at this ballpark back in April, and got this chance after the Phillies traded four minor leaguers to Cleveland in July to get him.
So Game 1 went to the Phils. But as Yankees manager Joe Girardi observed, “One thing, [Lee] can’t pitch every day.”
