Yankees Look For Crippling Blow In Game Five

Sports News - November 1st, 2009 - Written by John

The Philadelphia Phillies know a thing or two about squeezing the life out of teams when they have the chance. Heading into the World Series, they only lost two games total in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and always seemed to have the answer when it mattered. Last year even, they breezed to a cold championship win, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1.

Now, however, they are experiencing the other side of it, losing a pivotal Game Three to the New York Yankees and have their backs against the wall as they continue the series on Sunday. BetUS thinks New York is the favorite, giving them the standard 1 1/2-run spread. With the runs, a bet for the Phillies pays out -110, while taking the Yankees returns the same. The over/under for the game is 8 1/2. Neither of the first two games broke the over/under line, although Saturday night's 8-5 slugfest more than cleared the barrier.

Only five teams who lost Game Three have ever ended up winning the championship in the last 20 years, although the Yankees make up the losing end of two of those instances. In 2001 and 2003 they won the third game only to lose the series.

But these Yankees have already exorcised their demons in prior days. They were leading 3-1 in the ALCS before losing Game Five to the Los Angeles Angels, sparking memories from the 2004 ALCS in which they blew a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox. It was all just talk, however, and New York won the next game easily. They hope to keep the pressure on and jump to a 3-1 lead on the road. To do it, manager Joe Girardi will hand the ball to C.C. Sabathia on three days' rest.

Sabathia has been the team's best starter all year, and was actually pretty good in a Game One loss pitching against Cliff Lee. He only gave up two runs in seven innings and struck out six. He will be on short rest for the second time this postseason.

"I got used to doing it last year," Sabathia said.

The last time he did it was in Game Four against the Angels, and he only surrendered one run in eight innings.

His counterpart will be Joe Blanton, who is starting only his second playoff start this year. He's appeared as a reliever two other times, giving up five runs in nine total innings.

Although the Phillies pumped out five runs on Saturday, it was lost considering the show New York put on with eight runs on three homers. Slumping players Nick Swisher and Hideki Matsui each had solo shots and Andy Pettitte drove in his first career postseason run. Cole Hamels was roughed up for the third time this postseason, throwing 69 pitches in just over four innings. He has allowed 16 runs in 19 innings.

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, the facilitators of the Philadelphia offense, are 4-for-21 in the World Series. Check out our MLB Odds page if you are planning on betting on any of the World Series games.

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