In Game 1 of the World Series it was the pitching of Cliff Lee that dominated the dynamic of the ball game. In Game 2 it was AJ Burnett's turn.
While he didn't last nine innings like Lee, Burnett blew away the Phillies lineup for seven dynamic innings surrendering one run on four hits and striking out nine (compared to Lee's 10 Ks in nine innings on Wednesday). And importantly — in terms of the series as a whole — AJ needed only 108 pitches to get through those seven innings, which should allow him to function at maximum efficiency in his next start in the three-man rotation.
In any case, while Burnett's effort likely will not be as heralded as Lee's complete game, zero-earned run outing in the series opener, Burnett was just as effective even if he was handled a little more conservatively.
For the final two innings Girardi wasn't in the mood to ride the nauseating carousel that has been the Yankees' middle relief lately. With a travel day on Friday, Joe went right to Mariano Rivera in the eighth and his decision proved correct. Over those two innings Rivera surrendered no runs on two hits, striking out two. While Lee, Burnett, and to a lesser degree Sabathia have all turned in very good outings that have shut down the two most powerful offenses in Major League Baseball, Mariano Rivera continues to be the most consistently lethal force regardless of the opponent, the situation, or the length of his outing.
Pedro Martinez also rose to the occasion going six innings and surrendering three runs on six hits with an impressive eight strikeouts. The offensive heroes of night were Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui who both slammed solo shots off the man who deemed himself "the most influential person" to ever play at Yankee Stadium (new or old, opposing or home). Jorge Posada would knock in an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single to center off Chan Ho Park, but the run would prove unnecessary given the combined stellar work of Burnett and Rivera.
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