Phillies roll past Yankees: Lee, Utley spark 6-1 victory for defending Series champs

Credit: AP Photo

Chase Utley hits his first homer, in the third inning.

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 29, 2009

NEW YORK --

Cliff Lee and Chase Utley got the Philadelphia Phillies off to a fast World Series start.

Lee pitched a six-hitter to outduel CC Sabathia, Utley homered twice and the Phillies beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in a misty Game 1 last night.

In the first Series game at the new, billion-dollar Yankee Stadium, Lee struck out 10 and walked none, improving to 3-0 with an 0.54 ERA this postseason.

Utley hit solo homers off Sabathia in the third and sixth innings. Sabathia allowed four hits in seven innings, and Philadelphia tacked on four runs against the Yankees' bullpen.

"We have confidence. We know we have a good team," Utley said.

Pedro Martinez is scheduled to start for the Phillies against A.J. Burnett in Game 2 tonight.

Ryan Howard reprised his MVP performance, doubling twice and driving in the final run for the Phillies. Alex Rodriguez, however, went hitless and struck out three times in his Series debut.

Lee baffled the Yankees with a spiked curveball, 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. Lee improved to 3-0 with an 0.54 ERA this postseason.

He seemed to be enjoying himself.

If Lee felt any nerves in his Series debut, facing the team that led the majors in wins, homers and runs, it didn't show. And if the Phillies were supposed to be intimidated of 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. 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," Lee said.

"Game time is the time to 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, pitching in short sleeves on a blustery evening, chewed a wad of gum while he pitched. He stuck out his glove hand for a ho-hum catch on Johnny Damon's popup that left the Phillies chuckling, shrugged after a nifty, behind-the-back stop on Robinson Cano's one-hopper and casually tagged out Jorge Posada on a comebacker.

Lee beat CC Sabathia, his good friend and former Indians teammate, 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.

The Yankees, playing in their 40th World Series, and first in six years, went quietly.

Utley's solo home runs in the third and sixth innings gave Lee all the support he needed. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run single in the eighth and Shane Victorino added an RBI single in the ninth.

The Phillies may have been a bit overdue -- in their only other October meeting, the Whiz Kids from Philadelphia got swept by the Yankees in the 1950 World Series and totaled just five runs.

Even though he's an All-Star, Utley was an unlikely candidate to rock Sabathia, the MVP of the ALCS. Utley was 0 for 7 with five strikeouts against Sabathia going into the game.

Utley won a nine-pitch duel with Sabathia in the third, pulling a 95-mph fastball over the right-field wall. The shot was the first by a left-hander allowed by Sabathia at home this year.

Utley struck again in the sixth, sending another 95-mph heater deep into the right-center field bleachers.

Utley set a postseason record by safely reaching in his 26th straight game.

PHI. ab r h bi N.Y. ab r h bi

Rollins ss 4 2 1 0 Jeter ss 4 1 3 0

Victorn cf 4 1 1 1 Damon lf 4 0 1 0

Utley 2b 4 2 2 2 Teixeir 1b 4 0 0 0

Howard 1b 5 0 2 1 ARdrgz 3b 4 0 0 0

Werth rf 2 0 1 0 Posada c 4 0 1 0

Ibanez dh 4 0 1 2 HMatsu dh 3 0 1 0

BFrncs lf 3 0 0 0 Cano 2b 3 0 0 0

P.Feliz 3b 4 0 0 0 Swisher rf 3 0 0 0

C.Ruiz c 4 1 1 0 MeCarr cf 3 0 0 0