Yankees Take Game Two, Even Up Series

AJ Burnett showed up in game two and pitched a masterpiece when everyone said he could be hit or miss in the start. He also did exactly what Girardi and the Yankees wanted; handed the ball straight to Mariano. Mo came in for two innings and held the Phillies down in the Yankees 3-1 win. Pedro Martinez made his return to Yankee stadium and the Yankees made sure he didn’t go home happy.

The turning point in the game was when catcher Jose Molina picked Jason Werth off of first base with a snap throw in the top of the 4th. The Yankees were down a run already and the stadium was quiet. Molina’s pickoff got the crowd going and put some life into the stadium. Mark Teixeira lead off the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.

Hideki Matsui gave the Yankees the lead in the 6th with a solo home run that allowed Burnett to have the chance to get the win. Burnett went seven strong, giving up just one run, which came when A-Rod misplayed a ball in the 2nd inning. Burnett also struck out nine batters. The Yankees added some insurance in the 7th when Posada hit a liner up the middle to drive in Brett Gardner.

The World Series is tied at one game a piece as the series heads to Philadelphia for games three, four and five. Lefties Andy Pettitte and Cole Hamels go for their respective teams in game three.