The Phillies' lack of pitching is beginning to be exposed and the Yankees' powerful lineup is clicking back into full swing.
On Saturday night (and into early Sunday morning) the Yankees pounded the struggling Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 behind another solid start by veteran Andy Pettitte. The Yankees bats awoke from their two-game slumber and chased the Phillies lefty from the game after only 4.1 innings (five runs on five hits). They then continued to rip into the bullpen effectively taking back control of the series with a 2-1 lead going into Sunday's matchup between CC Sabathia and Joe Blanton.
While many doubted Pettitte's effectiveness going into playoffs, the former multi-time World Series Champion continues to prove that there are a few big games "left" in his left arm. Pettitte went six solid innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out seven. It wasn't a stellar outing, but with Hamels' immense hittability, it was more than enough to secure a Yankees victory.
Early on, the game looked to be moving in Philadelphia's favor as they jumped out to an early three-run lead in the second inning. But in the top of the fourth, following a Mark Teixeira walk, A-Rod — as he has so many times before in this season's playoffs — pounded a clutch home run off of a camera in the right field stands, surging the Yankees back into the game in authoritative fashion.
The offensive onslaught would continue the next inning stemming from the most unlikely of places. After a Nick Swisher double, Pettitte came to the plate with one out. The light hitting pitcher proceeded to loop a single to center, scoring Swisher on the play, tying the game at 3-3 and becoming the first Yankees' pitcher to record and RBI in a playoff game since Jim Bouton in the 1964 World Series.
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