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RON CORTES / Staff Photographer
Chase Utley and the Phillies strike out in their bid to repeat as world champions. The Yankees won, 7-3, to claim their 27th title.
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Relive the memories: Coverage of the World Series run
Posted on Thu, Nov. 5, 2009


Throne Out

By Andy Martino

Inquirer Staff Writer

NEW YORK - It ended when Shane Victorino bounced a Mariano Rivera fastball toward second base. Robinson Cano threw him out at first, and the Phillies were no longer defending World Series champions.

With their 7-3 victory last night in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees won a lengthy and interesting World Series, worthy of the teams that competed. It was the 27th title for the Yanks, and it arrived because Andy Pettitte bested Pedro Martinez in a marquee matchup, and Hideki Matsui tied a Series record by driving in six runs in one game. Matsui was named MVP of the Series.

In winning a second straight National League title, the resilient Phils overcame many problems in 2009: Their ace and closer were rarely comfortable, their offense endured prolonged slumps, and their spring was interrupted by the death of longtime broadcaster Harry Kalas.

After all that, the question facing the Phils in April was relevant again in the World Series: Did they have enough pitching?

In this Series, the Phils' arms could not match the Yankees' bats. "When they needed that big inning, they were able to get that inning," Victorino said. "They always had that big hit."

Said manager Charlie Manuel, who gathered his players after the game to say he was proud of them: "We kind of sputtered a little bit."

Against a powerful Yankees team, the staff appeared fatally thin last night. The issue began with Martinez, a midseason acquisition. One of the pitcher's favorite phrases since he arrived in July has been "old goat," typically used in reference to himself.

On Tuesday, he promoted last night's game as a face-off of old goats; indeed, Martinez, 38, and Pettitte, 37, first faced each other May 31, 1998. Both are nearing the end of long and memorable careers, and both were still effective enough this year to be trusted in their teams' most important game of the season.

Throughout his four innings, Martinez had little to offer. He threw his first fastball of the night to Matsui in the second, after walking Alex Rodriguez to begin the inning. Matsui crushed the 87-m.p.h. offering over the right-field wall, but foul.

The Yankees' designated hitter, seeking his first championship in possibly his final season with the club, found another fastball that he liked on a 3-2 count. This one arrived at 89 m.p.h., and landed in the second deck of the right-field seats. It was Matsui's second home run off Martinez during this Series. The righthander did not allow another batter to reach in the second, but he used 24 pitches in the inning, and never appeared strong.

The Phils scored a retaliatory run in the third. Carlos Ruiz bashed a one-out triple off the wall in left-center, and scored on Jimmy Rollins' sacrifice fly. That made it 2-1 Yankees, and suggested that the Phillies might not fold easily.

But Martinez encountered major issues with his command, and soon fell further behind. With one out in the third, Derek Jeter poked a ball into shallow center that dropped in front of the typically steady Victorino. Martinez then walked Johnny Damon, and hit Mark Teixeira with a pitch.

That brought up Rodriguez with the bases loaded. Home plate umpire Joe West ruled Rodriguez out on a 1-2 slider out of the strike zone, but Martinez could not take advantage of the favorable call. He allowed Matsui to hit a two-run single, lifting the Yankees' lead to 4-1.

Pettitte, starting his 40th postseason game, was more effective in overcoming his own problems with control. Staring in at hitters with a familiar pose - glove lowered just below steely eyes - the lefthander walked two in the fourth, after breezing through Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. But he got Pedro Feliz to strike out, ending the threat and bringing the Phils one inning closer to the end of their year.

Despite his struggles, Martinez kept the game close, and rebounded by retiring the bottom of the Yankees' order in a perfect fourth that ended his night.

"I didn't get the performance I wanted, and we ended up losing the game," Martinez said. "But I'm extremely proud, and I had fun."

Relievers Chad Durbin and J.A. Happ increased the deficit in the bottom of the inning. Durbin allowed a double to Jeter and a run-scoring single to Teixeira. Happ relieved him, and surrendered a two-run double to Matsui that made it 7-1. Howard hit a too-late, two-run homer in the sixth.

In the clubhouse afterward, players were disappointed but proud. "Not too many teams that win the World Series are able to come back the next year," Victorino said.

"We got outplayed," said ace Cliff Lee. "But this is the next-best thing."

"It's a great group of players to be associated with," said pitcher Joe Blanton.

Manuel, ever the proud parent, wished his team a happy off-season. "I told them to go home and have a great winter, and enjoy their holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I'll see them in spring training," Manuel said.

Closer Brad Lidge, whose unhappy year is over, said he would be eager to play by then.

"Somewhere after New Year's," Lidge said, "the juices get going, and you want to get back out there."

 

Contact staff writer Andy Martino

at 215-854-4874

or amartino@phillynews.com.

 

Comments   
Posted 06:22 AM, 11/05/2009
Johnnydeagle
Thanks for the bad Karma, mister pie in the sky puke fetish!
Posted 06:29 AM, 11/05/2009
andwhysee
Good run, Phils.
Posted 06:34 AM, 11/05/2009
Juvenal
There is no shame in taking the best baseball team on the planet to six games. The Phillies were outplayed during the Series, but they have a lot to hang their hats on. Hopefully we firm up the rotation next year, Lidge gets back to form, and we make another run. For now, I think I'm baseballed out.
Posted 06:46 AM, 11/05/2009
Heckler
should've started happ, but that aside, it's been a great couple of years. its disappointing, but surprisingly not as disappointed as i thought i would be. lets go home, rest, get ready for next year cause i can guarantee that the yanks wont' be there to defend it. making what we just did all the more extraordinary. go phils!!
Posted 07:01 AM, 11/05/2009
Fritz and Alice
Well done! Great year!
Posted 07:07 AM, 11/05/2009
LarsMendte2
Let's celebrate the Phil's season and 2 years making it to the World Series. There can be only 1 winner. Leave the criticisms and sarcasm for later and wish the Phils luck for next year.
Posted 07:11 AM, 11/05/2009
LtMike
Hey phans, In case you missed it, this series was over when the phlails rolled over, whimpered and died at the feet of everymans mediocre journeyman burnett. THAT is when the newyawk yucks KNEW they had the series!!!!!!!
Posted 07:46 AM, 11/05/2009
Jim P
This is for fightins, I hope you read this. I am a sore loser but a gracious winner. My Yankees won and I have been humbled. I think the bet was something from Florida if the Phillies won and a good cheese steak if the Yankees took it. Looking forward to it. Extra mushrooms please.lol.
Posted 08:42 AM, 11/05/2009
ratbag
Yo, Phillies! We love you, we're proud of you, we'll be there next spring. It's been another great year. Thanks!
Posted 09:12 AM, 11/05/2009
RQL
Another championship for the folks with the deep pockets who can outspend any anyone else when it comes to buying the best athletes - and thus, buying themselves another metal for the mantelpiece.
Posted 09:25 AM, 11/05/2009
bobby
Great season from the Phils. They were fun to watch (usually) and always played til the very end. Thanks, Phils!
Posted 09:31 AM, 11/05/2009
yardbyrd
Get a new bench and a couple new arms in the BP and get ready for another run in 2010.
Posted 09:34 AM, 11/05/2009
Depardieu
Phils are a great team, but more important than that they have guts and character. Other teams would have rolled over with some of the adversity they faced. I'm a Yankee fan and very happy right now, but Phils are a class act. Maybe round two next year?
Posted 09:57 AM, 11/05/2009
Nickawampus Leroy
Face reality. Nobody ever got rich betting against the Yankees or Notre Dame. On the other hand there are whole blocks of bungalows in Brigantine built by bartenders and bookies who have bet against the Phillies, the losingest team in the history of professional sports.
Posted 10:00 AM, 11/05/2009
VermontPhilsFan
My sentiments to the set of comments by Phils fans here. Winning it all last year was stupendous...participating in 2 straight World Series is remarkable! Again we were tied for the last team playing in all of baseball. As yardbyrd states, we must revamp the bench and the bullpen. The closer situation is a BIG mess. Supposedly we're stuck with Lidge...I'll even accept the unlikelihood of half as many blown saves by him. And somehow we have to get Michael Taylor into the mix. Pedro M. is gone; Kendrick 5th starter for now.
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