2009 NL Champion Phillies take Game 1 of 2009 World Series
The 2009 National League Champion Phillies clinched Game 1 of the 2009 World Series against the New York Yankees last night!!
Cliff Lee dominated the Yankees in a remarkable 6-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. He threw a six-hitter as he continued one of the most impressive postseason performances in baseball history. Chase Utley hit a pair of home runs against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia to join Babe Ruth as the only two left-handed hitters to hit two home runs against a lefty pitcher in a World Series game.
“It doesn’t really matter that much,” Utley said.
Here is what matters: The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, and 18 of the past 21 teams to win Game 1 have won the World Series, including the past six winners. But besides guaranteeing they will leave Yankee Stadium on Thursday (7:57 p.m. ET, FOX and Postseason.TV) with no worse than a split, the Phils let the favored Yankees know they are for real. They let New York know that Yankee Stadium does not intimidate them. They let the world know the Yankee mystique does not worry them.
The Phillies want to become the first National League team to win consecutive World Series since the 1975-76 Reds.
If they must beat the Yankees, they must.
“This is the same game I’ve been playing my whole life, and this is the stage that I’ve wanted to get to as a little kid,” Lee said.
Lee appeared positively unaffected by the Yankee pinstripes in a World Series atmosphere. He pitched the first complete game in the World Series since Marlins right-hander Josh Beckett threw one against the Yankees in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series. He was just the third pitcher in World Series history to have no walks and 10 strikeouts in a game. Pittsburgh’s Deacon Phillippe (Game 1 of the 1903 World Series against the Red Sox) and Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe (Game 1 of the 1949 World Series against the Yankees) were the others.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been nervous playing this game,” Lee said. “It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life. I put all the work in. You do everything you need to do to prepare, and I try not to leave anything to chance. So what’s the point in being nervous? I’ve already done the work. It’s game time — time to go out there and have fun and execute and let your skills take over.”
NOW for all you Yankee’s fans staying at The Independent Hotel on Sunday, November 1st & Monday, November 2, 2009 here is the deal from The Independent Hotel located in the “City of Brotherly Love” - The Phillies have “STEAKed” their claim to the 2009 World Series Title - Should the Yankees lose Game 4 or Game 5 - show your ID with a NYC area address at the Front Desk prior to checkout to receive a “Complimentary” $5 Gift Certificate to Reading Terminal to enjoy an Authentic Philadelphia CheeseSTEAK” - The Independent Hotel’s way of easing your pain - GO PHILLIES!