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Yanks on brink of title

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By BEN WALKER

The Associated Press

Published: November 2, 2009

Updated: 11/02/2009 01:11 am

PHILADELPHIA - Alex Rodriguez waited all game for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole career.

Rodriguez delivered the biggest hit of his life, a go-ahead, two-out double in the ninth inning off Brad Lidge, and the New York Yankees took advantage of Johnny Damon's alert dash to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Sunday night for a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

Derek Jeter delivered all game and Mariano Rivera closed it out as the Yankees moved within one win of their 27th championship and first since 2000. Rodriguez could really savor this victory - seething after again being hit by a pitch, he struck back with his potent black bat.

The Yankees will try to clinch it tonight when A.J. Burnett faces October ace Cliff Lee.

Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz hit late home runs for the Phillies that tied it at 4. Then it moved to the ninth and the Phils brought in Lidge - a postseason star last year, who had struggled all season before regaining his touch this October.

But November was not so kind to him.

After retiring the first two batters in the ninth, Lidge allowed an opposite-field single to Damon. The Yankees' left fielder then stole second and alertly took third uncontested as the Phillies had a defensive shift on for the left-handed Mark Teixeira.

Lidge then hit Teixeira with a pitch, setting the stage for Rodriguez's heroics.

Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4, and the Yankees sent the defending champion Phillies to the brink of elimination.

Before Sunday night, Lidge hadn't allowed a run in five appearances this postseason.

Lidge was 48 for 48 in save opportunities last season, including seven in the playoffs. Without him, the Phillies probably wouldn't have won the division let alone their second World Series title in franchise history.

But this year was a disaster for Lidge. He led the majors with 11 blown saves and went 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA, temporarily losing his closer's job a couple times.

Meanwhile, Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera left Game 4 with an injury and Brett Gardner took over in center in the sixth inning.

Cabrera took an awkward swing and appeared to hurt his leg while running out a grounder to first for the final out in the top of the sixth. Yankees manager Joe Girardi and assistant athletic trainer Steve Donohue came out to check on Cabrera near second base in the middle of the inning.

After the meeting, Cabrera took his position in center field, but before starter C.C. Sabathia threw another pitch, Girardi popped out of the dugout again, spoke to plate umpire Mike Everitt and removed Cabrera from the game.

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