WORLD SERIES GAME 5PHILLIES 8, YANKEES 6 Philly Prolongs Fight By Coming Out Swinging

By TOM HAUDRICOURT

Philadelphia -- Cliff Lee and Chase Utley weren't ready to call it a season.

Lee gutted out seven innings without his best stuff, and Utley continued his World Series power surge with two more home runs Monday night as Philadelphia staved off elimination with an 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Series will resume Wednesday night in New York, with some wondering if the pitching plans of manager Joe Girardi will work despite his Yankees holding a 3-2 lead.

Girardi confirmed after Monday's game that he will stick with his intention of using only three starters by bringing back veteran Andy Pettitte on short rest in Game 6. The Yankees have to hope Pettitte fares better than A.J. Burnett, who was pounded for six runs in two- plus innings Monday as the Phillies roared to a 6-1 lead and held on for dear life.

"If Andy feels good, he's going to go Wednesday," said Girardi, who indicated he'd check with Pettitte during a team workout Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. "This is something we've talked about all along."

As for Burnett looking nothing like he did in Game 2 while pitching on three days' rest this time, Girardi added, "I don't think there was any correlation. He just lacked command tonight, similar to what he did in Anaheim (during the ALCS).

"He was able to recover better there. Tonight, he just wasn't able to get it going."

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel announced that he would come back in Game 6 with Pedro Martinez, who turned in a solid performance in defeat in Game 2 in New York.

"Pedro is ready," said Manuel. "He's already been told. I expect something similar to what we got from him the other night."

Pitching on normal rest, Lee wasn't nearly as sharp as during his complete-game victory in Game 1. But he kept the Yankees under control until the eighth inning, when they sent him from the game with three quick runs that put the outcome in doubt.

"I don't think my command was as good as it has been," said Lee, who allowed seven hits, three walks and five runs. "I had to battle. Fortunately, we scored a lot of runs and made it a little easier.

"I gave the team a chance, but it was a group effort. We won; that's the bottom line. We're still fighting."

Utley jump-started the Phillies' attack with a three-run homer in the first inning off Burnett, wiping out New York's 1-0 lead before an out was recorded. Utley also homered in the seventh off left- handed reliever Phil Coke, giving him five in the World Series to tie the record set by the Yankees' Reggie Jackson in 1977.

"Chase is swinging the bat well," said Manuel. "Everything is going good for him right now. I say this all the time. He's one of the most prepared and dedicated players I've ever been around."

Of the five homers by the left-handed-swinging Utley, four have come against left-handed pitchers, including three off New York ace CC Sabathia. Utley has seven career World Series homers, most for any second baseman.

"At some point, maybe I'll look back on it and see what kind of special moment it is," said Utley. "But right now our goal is to win two more games.

"We all have the same mind-set. We all play the game the right way, in my belief. You give it everything you can and play that game like it's the last."

Burnett didn't retire any of the four hitters he faced in the third inning as the Phillies put another three-spot on the board to go up, 6-1. Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez, who later homered, singled in runs to send Burnett from the game, and Carlos Ruiz later chipped in with an RBI groundout.

Lee took an 8-2 lead into the seventh but suddenly hit the wall, allowing an infield hit by Derek Jeter, double by Mark Teixeira and two-run double by Alex Rodriguez, who boosted his post-season RBI total to 18, a Yankees record.

Chan Ho Park took over and later surrendered a sacrifice fly to Robinson Cano, making it a three-run game. After watching closer Brad Lidge surrender three ninth-inning runs to lose Game 4, Manuel went with setup man Ryan Madson.

Madson gave up one run in the ninth but it came on a double-play grounder by Jeter that short-circuited a potential bigger outburst.

"I wanted to bring Madson in and see how it goes," said Manuel. "I wanted to give Lidge a break tonight if I could."

GAME 6

6:57 p.m. Wednesday in New York

TV: Fox.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.