So these first two games of the series was what we pretty much expected, good offense, but great pitching. Cliff Lee threw a magical complete game in game 1 allowing only 1 run with 6 hits and 10 k's in 9 innings. CC Sabathia threw a great game as well allowing only 2 runs but the Yankee offensive simply had no answer for Lee.
Game 2 was just about the same with A.J. Burnett throwing a gem allowing 1 run where as the rejuvenated Pedro Martinez allowed 3 runs letting the Yankee fans know who's who's Daddy.
Game 3 was a battle of Andy Pettitte, the pitcher with the most post season wins in history against Cole Hamels, the reigning World Series MVP. Hamels isn't the same pitcher we saw last post season and Pettitte is getting up their in age, so we knew this one was going to be a hitting duel and it didn't disappoint as the Yank's took back home-field advantage in an 8-5 victory.
In a game that saw 6 home runs, the fans certainly got what they wanted out of these two juggernaut offenses. Even the first ever post season home run review on a homer by A-rod that bounced off a camera in the crowd.
How does A-rod do these things? You can recall last year when the home run review was put into place, A-rod was the first player to have a homer reviewed after he hit one into the catwalk at Tropicana Field.
Staying on the topic of A-rod, who seemed to come out of the 0 for 8 slump with 6 strikeouts the first two games, hits the controversial homer and walked a few more times to get on base.
The Yank's were definitely on their game tonight. Matsui got his second homer of the series coming in as a pinch hitter as they're playing by the NL rules in Philly. Nick Swisher, who was criticized the whole postseason for his poor play, led off the 5th with a double and then homered in the 6th.
Heck, even Pettitte got a hit off Hamels. Not just a hit, an RBI single and then a run. Derek Jeter was seen telling them umpire that their all going to be hearing about that one for a while. It was Pettitte's 14th RBI of his 19 year career.
For the Phillies, Jason Werth had a good game scoring 2 home runs, unfortunately, no one else did much to help him out. Ryan Howard, the post season's most productive player went 0-4 with 3 strike outs. Chase Utley, the player who hit two home runs against Sabathia in game 1, also went 0-4.
Mariano Rivera than came out in the 9th and did what he's been doing his whole career, finishing off games. He did it beautifully allowing no hits in less than 10 pitches.
This was what we all wanted, to see the balls fly out of the park, because while we all think pitching is great, we all came to the park to see these people hit, and the harder the better.
Game 4 of this series continues on Sunday, where I believe it will be another bomb fest when Joe Blanton takes the mound for Philly against a short rested Sabathia. I believe the Yanks we'll do some damage against Blanton as well as the philly's giving a hurting to Sabathia.
I give the edge to the Phillies because they need to tie up the series now or they may not have enough confidence to do it after being down 3-1 in the series. Whatever happens, two things I'm sure of, Jimmy Rollins' statement of the Phillies taking it in 5 is no more and, if the Philies want to win it, their going to have to do it in New York. Good luck with that.
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