A-Rod’s Big Hit Gives Yankees Game 4 Win
November 1, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Playoffs, Stats and Analysis
The Philadelphia Phillies really need to win Game 4 to have a chance to win back-to-back World Series championships. Unfortunately for the Phillies and their fans, the New York Yankees drew first blood by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.
Derek Jeter began the game with an infield single. Johnny Damon then hit a double off of Joe Blanton. With runners on second and third, Mark Teixeira hit an RBI groundout. After Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pinch, Jorge Posada hit a sacrifice fly to left field to extend the Yankees lead to 2-0.
However, in the bottom of the first inning, the Phillies quickly got back into the ballgame. Shane Victorino and Chase Utley hit doubles on consecutive at-bats to trim the lead to 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ryan Howard led off the stanza with a single. Howard then stole second base and ended up scoring on a two-out single by Pedro Feliz to tie the game at 2-2.
In the top of the fifth, the Yankees struck back. A Derek Jeter single scored Nick Swisher. The next batter, Johnny Damon, hit a single to score Melky Cabrera. In the bottom half of the inning, the Phillies got their first two batters on base … but Sabathia worked out the jam and got out of the inning.
The Phillies then tied the game thanks to the long ball. In the bottom of the seventh, Utley hit his third solo homer of the series off of Sabathia. In the bottom of the eighth, Feliz hit a solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain.
With the game tied 4-4 and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees had a championship-like rally. Damon battled Brad Lidge and then got a single. After Teixeira got hit by a pitch, A-Rod hit a run scoring double. Posada came up next drove in both Teixeira and Rodriguez.
In the bottom of the ninth, Mariano Rivera got three straight outs to pick up yet another postseason save. With the Yankees now leading the World Series 3-1, New York will try to wrap up the 2009 baseball championship in Game 5 on Monday.
Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees (Image: Zuma Press)
