MLB

Yankees on verge of title after beating Phillies, 7-4

PHILADELPHIA – The Yankees are nine innings away from returning to a place Derek Jeter and others firmly believe a season is a failure if they don’t.

Tonight at Citizens Bank Park the Yankees will attempt to win their 27th World Series title and first since 2000 against the defending champion Phillies because a three-run ninth inning that was highlighted by Alex Rodriguez’ game-winning double lifted the Yankees to a pulsating, 7-4, win in Game 4 that provided them a commanding, 3-1, lead in the best-of-seven Series and was witnessed by 46,145.

“There is no question that I have never had a bigger hit,’’ said Rodriguez, who was hit in the first inning by Joe Blanton which drew a warning to both teams because Rodriguez was drilled twice in Game 3. “If you look at what Mark Teixeira and I have done in this World Series, it’s not much. It just tells you what a balanced team we have and we are getting contributions from all our guys.’’

With the score tied, 4-4, thanks to Pedro Feliz turning a 95-mph fastball from Joba Chamberlain into a solo homer in the eighth inning the Yankees appeared flat in the ninth against Phils closer Brad Lidge.

But a nine-pitch at-bat by Johnny Damon resulted in a two-out single. With the Phillies using Feliz, the third baseman on the right side of second for the shift against Teixeira, Damon swiped second on the first pitch to Teixeira as Feliz took the throw at second.

Knowing that third base wouldn’t be covered and believing he was faster than Feliz, Damon raced for the bag and beat Feliz, Lidge hit Teixeira with a 1-1 pitch and gave up a double to Rodriguez that scored Damon with the go-ahead run. Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single for a three-run bulge.

Mariano Rivera, who is the favorite to win the Series MVP, recorded the final three outs for his post-season record 39th save and second of the Series.

“I was trying to be aggressive and trying to get into scoring position,’’ said Damon, who went 3-for-5 and scored twice. “It just worked out that there was a throw, the third baseman covered (second) and the pitcher didn’t (cover third).’’

Phils manager Charlie Manuel said mis-communication between Lidge and catcher Carlos Ruiz left third base naked.

A.J. Burnett, the second Yankees’ hurler in two games to work on three days rest instead of four, opposes Phillies ace Cliff Lee. If a Game 6 is required it will be played Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.

Working on three days rest, CC Sabathia went 6 2/3 innings, allowed three runs and seven hits.

Prior to the game Joe Girardi said he wouldn’t use Rivera for two innings and he stuck to the plan when Joba Chamberlain started the eighth with a 4-3 lead.

Chamberlain fanned Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez on a 97-mph fastballs and then got ahead of Feliz, 1-2 with a pair of 96-mph fastballs. Two 87-mph sliders got the count full and Feliz smoked a 95-mph heater into the left-field seats to tie the score, 4-4.

“I know the game’s still tied. I can’t let anything else go on. Ruiz has been swinging a great bat and putting together quality AB’s,’’ said Chamberlain, who regrouped to fan Ruiz. “I knew I had to just minimize the damage and go out and make a quality pitch to him and get a ground ball and end up getting a strikeout. But you can’t panic right there.”

Sabathia was far from sharp but effective when he needed to be (2-for-10 with runners in scoring position). The last hit was a two-out, solo homer to Chase Utley in the seventh that cut the lead to 4-3 and forced Sabathia out of the game.