Phillies’ season now hanging on a Cliff
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If you thought the Philadelphia Phillies were in a big hole just because they’re a loss from elimination heading into tonight’s Game 5 of the World Series, just wait. Because it gets worse.
The Yankees are starting right-hander A.J. Burnett on short rest tonight and Burnett has never lost pitching on three days rest, going 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts. The last time he did it was September 2008, when, pitching for Toronto, he held the Red Sox to a run on three hits over six innings.
Plus Burnett has already beaten the Phillies once in the Series, giving up a run in seven innings to win Game 2. The Yankees haven’t lost since.
‘This is what you talk about growing up. I’m going to do my best to take full advantage of that,’ Burnett said of pitching in the World Series. ‘I’m not going to take it as just one ordinary game or another start. It’s the World Series Game 5 and I’m the starter. That’s what it’s all about.’
Trying to prolong the season for the Phillies with be Game 1 winner Cliff Lee, who grew up dreaming the same World Series dream about 10 miles from Burnett in south-central Arkansas.
‘It’s about making pitches and mixing speeds and being unpredictable and stuff like that,’ said Lee, who is 5-4 against the Yankees in 10 career starts. ‘Whether I’ve faced them the first time or the sixth time in a row. It boils down to making pitches, locating and making them swing their way on base, throwing strikes, working ahead, all the things you’ve got to do to be a successful pitcher. It really boils down to that whether it’s the first time, second, third, whatever.’
-- Kevin Baxter