World Series Game 2: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
It might be time to start warming up the term “dynasty” for the Philadelphia Phillies.
After Cliff Lee’s incredible pitching performance in Game 1 on Wednesday night, the Phillies of course lead the World Series 1-0 over the New York Yankees and now are on a 17-4 postseason run the past two years, which is the best ever run in MLB playoff history.
Yet the Yanks again are Game 2 favorites on WagerWeb.com, this time at -195 on the moneyline.
Phils second baseman Chase Utley was the hitting star of Game 1 with two solo homers. Before last night, Utley was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in his career against New York starter CC Sabathia. Utley also set a postseason record by safely reaching in his 26th straight game, breaking a tie with Baltimore’s Boog Powell.
The last six teams to win the World Series opener have won the title.
That loss was the Yankees first-ever playoff loss at the new Yankee Stadium, and A-Rod unfortunately reverted to Alex Rodriguez of past playoffs: He became the sixth cleanup hitter in World Series Game 1 history to go hitless with three strikeouts. Rodriguez hit .438 (14-for-32) with a.969 slugging percentage against the Twins and Angels in the first two rounds of the playoffs. A-Rod fanned three times in a game for the first time since July 30. The last pitcher to strike him out three times in a game? The Phillies’ Cole Hamels on May 24.
The Yankees, who led the major leagues with 663 walks this year, failed to coax a base on balls off Lee.
They advanced only one runner to second base until the ninth, and went down in order four times in the first eight innings. They also struck out 10 times. New York’s 3-4-5 hitters went a combined 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts.
There’s a decent chance there will be a few different hitters in Game 2. It’s not clear if Yanks manager Joe Girardi will start catcher Jose Molina (ahead of Jorge Posada), who has been the batterymate of Game 2 starter A.J. Burnett for weeks. There’s a decent shot that struggling outfielder Nick Swisher also may find a seat on the bench.
As for Burnett, he struggled last time out in the ALCS against the Angels, allowing the first five batters he faced to reach base and seeing four of them score. L.A. ended up winning 7-6 to send the ALCS back to New York. Burnett faced the Phillies in interleague play this year and lost, allowing five runs (three homers) but striking out seven.
One pitcher the Yanks need to get straightened out is set-up man Phil Hughes. He was lights out in the regular season when he moved to the bullpen. But in seven postseason games, Hughes has allowed a staggering nine hits, five runs and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. Those five runs allowed are more than he allowed in 38 eighth-inning appearances during the season.
Pedro Martinez takes the mound for the Phillies, which should have the Yankee faithful fired up.
“I don’t know if you realize this,” Martinez said before Game 1, “but because of you guys, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium.”I can honestly say that.”
Pedro is just 1-2 record with a 4.72 ERA in six postseason appearances against the Yankees, all with the Red Sox. But in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, pitching for the first time in 17 days, Martinez allowed just two hits in seven innings.
MLB Betting at WagerWeb.com
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