Phillies can clinch World Series spot tonight with win over Dodgers; Yankees also 1 win away

Phillies can clinch World Series spot tonight

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies can clinch a spot in the World Series tonight with a win in Game 5 of the NLCS against visiting Los Angeles. Philadelphia took a 3-1 lead in the series Monday night with a come-from-behind 5-4 win on a two-out double by Jimmy Rollins in the bottom of the ninth.

The Phils go with Cole Hamels, the MVP of last year’s postseason when the Phillies won it all. Dodgers manager Joe Torre is bypassing 21-year-old Clayton Kershaw in favor of veteran Vicente Padilla.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are one win away from their first trip to the World Series since 2003, and 40th overall appearances in the Fall Classic.

After falling short in his last two playoff appearances, Alex Rodriguez continued his postseason rebirth by belting a two-run homer and scoring three times in a 10-1 pounding of the L.A. Angels that gives New York a commanding 3-games-to-1 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

A-Rod is batting .407 with five homers and 11 RBIs in this postseason.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia was outstanding working on three days’ rest. The big left-hander allowed just one run on five hits while throwing 101 pitches in eight innings. Kendry Morales’ fifth-inning homer accounted for the Angels’ run. Sabathia is 3-and-0 with a 1.19 ERA in this postseason.

The Yanks knocked out Angels starter Scott Kazmir in the fifth after a leadoff single by Mark Teixeira, who snapped an 0-for-13 streak. Rodriguez greeted reliever Jason Bulger with a two-run home run.

The teams have today off before resuming the series tomorrow in Anaheim. A.J. Burnett is scheduled to go for the Yanks against John Lackey.