Sabathia to start for Yanks in Game 4
While Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that CC Sabathia would start tonight's Game 4 of the World Series against the Phillies on three days' rest, he wasn't ready to commit beyond that point.
Girardi did say he would consider doing the same with starters A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. Burnett was the winning pitcher in Thursday's 3-1 victory that evened the series at one game apiece.
"This is the World Series," Girardi said. "There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months, so there will be plenty of time to rest."
A-Rod homers
Alex Rodriguez's fourth-inning two-run home run that was awarded after the umpires used instant replay was not only his first hit of this World Series, but it put him and his team in the postseason record book on a few counts. The hit was originally ruled a double before being changed to a home run."I think it was a big hit and woke our offense up a little bit," A-Rod said. "It felt really good and really weird for first home run and replay and the whole nine yards, but it was two big runs."
Besides being the first use of replay in postseason history, it was Rodriguez's sixth homer of the postseason, tying the Yankees' club record set by Bernie Williams in 1996.
It was also the 17th postseason home run this season for the Yanks, setting a franchise record. They hit 16 in 1996, 2001 and 2003. "I thought the first two days I got pitched to tough, but I helped the opposing pitcher by swinging at pitches that were borderline and not strikes," A-Rod said. "The game plan was to swing at strikes."
First RBI
When Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte hit a run-scoring single off Cole Hamels in the fifth inning, it was his first career postseason RBI.Pettitte was previously 2 for 17 in the postseason. It was also the first RBI for a Yankees pitcher since Jim Bouton on Oct. 14, 1964, in Game 6 against St. Louis. "I got a few World Series knocks and now I got an RBI so I'm happy about that," Pettitte said.
Hits keep coming
With a fifth-inning single, Derek Jeter has now hit safely in 12 of his last 13 postseason games. Jeter has 44 career World Series hits, ninth most all-time.
Move pays off
After starting Jerry Hairston Jr. in right field in Game 2, Yankees manager Joe Girardi returned Nick Swisher as the starter last night. Hairston started due to his past success against Pedro Martinez. He was 10 for 27 lifetime against Martinez and went 1 for 3 in Game 2.Girardi was rewarded for his patience with Swisher, who entered the game just 4 for 35 (.114) this postseason with one RBI. Last night Swisher led off the Yankees' three-run fifth with a double and eventually scored. He then drilled a solo home run in the sixth inning.
"Even though the tough times and no base hits, I still felt I wanted to bring my best at bat to the plate," Swisher said. "It was heartbreaking [being benched for Game 2]. I wear my heart on my sleeve. Skip sat me down and said just relax, watch and enjoy this game. I think it helped me mentally. Tonight just really turned things around for me."
Easy as 1-2-3
When Yankees righthander Joba Chamberlain replaced Pettitte and retired the side in the seventh it was the first time a Yankees reliever had pitched a 1-2-3 inning in this series. They had thrown four innings over the first two games. After his scoreless inning, Chamberlain was pinch-hit for by Hideki Matsui, who hit a solo home run off Brett Myers. Matsui became the eighth Yankee to hit a pinch-hit World Series home run.
Contact staff write Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
