In Yankees-Phillies Game 5, Utley a home-run machine
Utley lifted Philadelphia to an 8-6 win in Game 5 of the World Series with two home runs. Now, the series heads to New York for Wednesday's Game 6.
The Phillies' Chase Utley hits his second home run in the Yankees and Phillies' game 5 of the World Series Monday night in Philadelphia.
Shaun Best/AP
Philadelphia
The New York Yankees may have Alex Rodriguez. But the Philadelphia Phillies have Chase Utley, a home-run-hitting phenom.
Thanks to the Utley factor, the defending world champions have forced Game 6 of the World Series, which will be Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Yes, it's back to New York after the Phillies on Monday night crushed home run after home run to beat the Yankees by the score of 8 to 6. The Yankees' lead in the series is now more narrow – 3 games to 2.
Utley, the Phillies' power-hitting second baseman, is red-hot, launching two blasts in their victory. That's happened only once before, in 1980. Utley's first homer came in the first inning with two men on base. His second was a solo shot in the seventh.
Utley has been a home-run hitting machine in the World Series, knocking five out of the park. That surpasses Babe Ruth's record and ties Reggie Jackson's 1977 total, the most ever. And this series is not over.
For Game 6, the Phillies will call on the crafty veteran Pedro Martinez, who lost Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Although he lost that matchup, he went six innings and gave up only three runs. With his off-speed pitches, he kept the Yankees fooled most of the time.
"I expect something similar to what we got the other night," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "He's definitely capable of giving us – he should go anywhere six, seven innings in a game."
For their part, the Yankees are expected to call on veteran Andy Pettitte, winner of Game 3, who will go on three days' rest instead of the normal four. Yankee manager Joe Girardi says he will check with Pettitte on Tuesday when the team works out.
