World Series Gameday: Phillies at Yankees, Game 2
Posted by Pat Gallen, Thu, October 29, 2009 05:57 PM | Comments: 443
Posts, World Series 2009
Philadelphia Phillies (1-0) at New York Yankees (0-1)
Pedro Martinez, RHP vs. A.J. Burnett, RHP
Time: 7:57 p.m at Yankee Stadium
Weather: Clear, 50
TV: FOX
Twitter: Phillies Nation
That couldn’t have gone much better. Cliff Lee was superb in a complete-game six hitter against the Yankees in Game 1 in New York. Not many pitchers can pull off a feat as monumental as that, but Lee was focused from the get go after striking out Derek Jeter to begin the festivities.
Pedro Martinez takes the ball in Game 2. If you said in April (hell, even July) that Pedro Martinez would be starting in the second game of the World Series AGAINST THE YANKEES, someone probably would have smacked you. My how the baseball world turns.
Martinez will look to win his seventh postseason game tonight against A.J Burnett. Pedro called himself “the most influential player” to ever play at Yankee Stadium, and now he must back up that claim. For his career, he has face New York six times in the postseason (five starts) and has allowed 18 earned runs over 35 1/3 innings of work (4.60 ERA). Pedro has called the Yankees “his daddy” before, but let’s hope the roles are reversed tonight.
A.J. Burnett is not as familiar with the spotlight as Pedro Martinez, and has had his ups and downs during his first trip to the postseason. Burnett got knocked around by the Angels in his latest start, going six innings while allowing six earned runs over eight hits. The 32-year old throws hard, but has been known to miss the plate a time or two. In the regular season, Burnett had 17 wild pitches, the most in the American League, and in the playoffs he has already walked 10 batters in 18 1/3 innings.
With that said, the Phillies need to use the same patience they showed with C.C. Sabathia last night. Burnett’s pitch counts will spike if he’s wild from the get go, which could very well happen in this high pressure situation. With the Yanks down a game already, Burnett has some weight on those shoulders.
Chase Utley gave the offense a shot last night, belting two home runs off of C.C., who had previously given up just three jacks this whole season to lefty hitters.
For the Yankees this evening, you will not see right fielder Nick Swisher in the starting lineup. Late word out of New York is that Swisher has been benched in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr. Jose Molina takes over for Jorge Posada at catcher, as he normally does with A.J. Burnett.
According to the twitter of Andy Martino, Greg Dobbs was sent back to Philadelphia with the flu, giving the Phillies one less bench option.
Matt Stairs is your DH tonight, taking over for Ben Francisco with a right hander on the hill for N.Y.
Phillies. Yankees. Game 2. Let’s do it.
Phillies Lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Stairs (DH), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C).
Yankees Lineup: Jeter (SS), Damon (LF), Teixeria (1B), Rodriguez (3B), Matsui (DH), Cano (2B), Hairston Jr. (RF), Cabrera (CF), Molina (C).
Your Gameday Beer – Presidente
In honor of tonight’s Phillies starter, we’re serving up the Dominican Republic’s most popular domestic beer. Like other Caribbean beers, Presidente has the appearance of an American Light Pilsner. The taste is that of a macrobrew with corn and grain being the predominant flavors and skunked being the predominant aroma. However, if you have a cold Presidente on a hot Dominican day, there are few things finer. Eat it with as much shrimp as you can get your hands on. – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 Keith
can Ibanez, Stairs, and well umm possibly Feliz
Posted: 10:12 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
the worse part is that he had 2 strikes on him. this game is still on our offense. we need to score in this inning, cause I can see Mariano Rivera coming in the 8th
Posted: 10:12 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
oops
possibly do something this inning? let’s go!
Posted: 10:13 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Phils like to score late. Now’s the time fellas.
Posted: 10:13 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
Pedro is still pitching great! The bats need to perform just as well!
Posted: 10:13 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
too bad that was a good pitch by pedro…that was like chase’s first hr…courtesy of the shortest porch in baseball
Posted: 10:13 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuckles
RRRRAAAAAUUUUULLLLL!
Posted: 10:15 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 AC from NJ
burnett has gotten a lot of borderline calls tonite. his curve is very good, but the ump has given him more…
Posted: 10:15 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
yeah Burnett’s two seamer looks good tonight but other than that they need to be a bit more aggressive because the ump’s corners are generous tonight.
Posted: 10:16 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
gees we look bad, come on Phillies!
Posted: 10:16 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I totally said Rivera would go two innings tonight if they had the lead. I just knew it.
Posted: 10:16 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 poomie
think positive! they never give up, high hopes! they can do it!
Posted: 10:17 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
9 Ks for Burnett now
Posted: 10:17 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
they keep calling that pitch a strike but its not. they wont even show the pitch tracker because they know its a ball. every single damn time.
Posted: 10:17 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
come on Feliz!
Posted: 10:18 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuckles
Man – I am starting to get deja vu with these WS games.
Posted: 10:18 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 ChesapeakePhan
That ball is outside. Both times.
Posted: 10:18 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
oh come on guys enough with the patience….theses are cookies
Posted: 10:18 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 poomie
Let’s go Phillies ! WE GOTTA BELIEVE!
Posted: 10:19 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
well that wasn’t likely
Posted: 10:19 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I think it is a strike. Every one of those pitches are on the black, absolutely strikes.
Truthfully, what Burnett has done tonight is as impressive as what Lee did last night when you consider how much pressure is on the Yanks right now.
Posted: 10:19 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Ruiz-Rollins-Victorino better do a lot better
Posted: 10:20 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
Burnett = Understimated. But not unbeatable. And can someone just try swinging at that curveball on the corner JUST to see what might happen? Especially on a 2 strike count!
Posted: 10:20 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 AC from NJ
man, i hate to say it…but gotta give burnett his due.
he’s up to 108 pitches. i wonder if Girardi is bringing him out again for the 8th.
I’m still not worried – our big bats come up one more time, and if we beat Broxton we can beat Mariano Rivera.
Posted: 10:21 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
we cant let them get another. we have to keep it a one run game.
Posted: 10:22 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 ChesapeakePhan
Burnett is pitching really, really well. Pedro hasn’t been shabby either.
Posted: 10:22 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
yes Rivera is not perfect, he gives up hits and runs so why not tonight?
Posted: 10:23 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
ED R. – I agree…that why they needed to be aggressive…but Burnett stuff doesn’t looks nearly as nasty as Lee’s last night. We just haven’t adjusted.
Posted: 10:23 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt
@Stuart-Agreed, and now we get to face Rivera for the next 2 innings…
Posted: 10:23 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
Wow i’m surprised they’re leaving Pedro in
Posted: 10:25 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I agree, this line up has not adjusted at all. They look completely baffled and Burnett’s stuff is not that great tonight. It’s good absolutely but not great.
Posted: 10:26 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 jt
Their gonna have to do it off prolly the best closer ever if their gonna come back…o’well at least were come home tied series that was the goal.
Posted: 10:27 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
I knew they were going to bring in Rivera for two inning. this is a must win for them.
Posted: 10:27 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
take Pedro out
Posted: 10:27 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I really disagree with Pedro even starting this inning. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
Posted: 10:27 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 AC from NJ
oh man…charlie is really showing faith in pedro now…
Posted: 10:27 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Pedro’s done, take him out
Posted: 10:29 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
why is pedro still in?
Posted: 10:29 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 AC from NJ
ok charlie, get him out now.
Posted: 10:29 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Well Charlie looks like Grady Little 2.0 right about now.
Posted: 10:29 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Good game Pedro. Well done!
Posted: 10:30 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 jt
Yea burnetts stuff has been good but it’s not eletric.
Posted: 10:30 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
This is why I hate Charlie. He takes him out in LA but leaves him in NY. He should of never started this inning. They Yankees were hitting him. He did his job and hill billy leaves him in.
Posted: 10:31 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
why would pedro ever smile there? just lost a lot of respect for him.
Posted: 10:31 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
Job well done for Pedro. Just a batter too many I think. LOVE HIS SMILE!!!!!!!
Posted: 10:31 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 AC from NJ
New York Fans – CLASSLESS. It will never change.
Posted: 10:31 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
I feel bad for Pedro. Offense failed him tonight.
Posted: 10:31 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt
I’ve gotta admit, I laughed at how slowly Pedro walked off the diamond, smiling at the boos.
Posted: 10:32 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Thanks Pedro. You did your best. Much appreciated.
Posted: 10:32 PM on October 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
You had guys warming up. You go lefty righty and we would of been fine. Now down 2 its over with MO.
Posted: 10:32 PM on October 29, 2009