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The New York Yankees celebrate - Source: Reuters -
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The New York Yankees scored three runs in the top of the ninth
inning to forge a commanding 3-1 World Series lead with a 7-4
victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
The Yankees broke open a 4-4 tie with three runs off Phillies
reliever Brad Lidge and moved within one victory of claiming their
27th Fall Classic crown with Game Five in the best-of-seven series
being played in Philadelphia Tuesday (NZT).
After home runs by Phillies Chase Utley in the seventh and Pedro
Feliz in the eighth tied the game, Lidge gave up an RBI-double to
Alex Rodriguez and a two-run single to Jorge Posada to hand the
Yankees their winning margin.
The last-inning outburst was ignited by Johnny Damon, who stroked a
two-out single to left.
With the infield in an over-shift to protect against batter Mark
Teixeira pulling the ball through the right side, the speedy
left-fielder stole second base.
When third baseman Feliz cut in front of the bag to handle the
catcher's throw, Damon alertly popped up from his slide and raced
to third base, which was not covered due to the shift.
The daring play seemed to unnerve Lidge, who hit Teixeira with a
pitch and then yielded a line-drive double to left by Rodriguez
that scored Damon. Posada followed with a single to left to bring
home Teixeira and Rodriguez.
Damon was credited with two stolen bases on the play.
"That's the first time we've had it happen to us this year,"
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told reporters. "It's the catcher
or pitcher that's got to be heads up."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi praised Damon for the aggressive move.
"I thought it was a great instinctual play by Johnny Damon," he
said.
Closer Mariano Rivera came on in the bottom of the ninth and
retired Philadelphia in order to put New York on the brink of their
first title since 2000.
Game Two winner A.J. Burnett will take the mound for New York on
Tuesday on short rest against Philadelphia's Game One winner Cliff
Lee, who can send the series back to New York for a Game Six with a
victory.
