Singles by Jeter & Damon back Sabathia as Yankees take 4-2 lead over Phils in Series Game 4

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Yankees take 4-2 lead after 6 innings in Game 4

PHILADELPHIA — Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon hit run-scoring singles off Joe Blanton in the fifth to back CC Sabathia, and the New York Yankees led the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 after six innings in Game 4 on Sunday night as they tried to take a 3-1 World Series lead.

New York broke on top in the first inning as the Series extended into November for only the second time. Mark Teixeira had an RBI grounder and Jorge Posada a sacrifice fly around Alex Rodriguez’s third hit by pitch in two games. That prompted umpires to warn both teams about throwing inside.

Philadelphia tied it 2-2 on Chase Utley’s RBI double in the first and Pedro Feliz’s run-scoring single with two outs in the fourth.

Sabathia struggled with his command, much as he did in the opening 6-1 loss, but limited the Phillies to 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position through six innings.

He was pitching on three days’ rest for the second time this postseason, and New York planned to bring back A.J. Burnett on short rest on Monday night against Game 1 winner Cliff Lee, who will be pitching on full rest for the defending champion Phillies.

Sabathia allowed two runs and six hits through six innings, striking out six and walking three. His pitch count was at 95.

Blanton, making just his second postseason start this year for Phillies, gave up four runs and five hits in six innings before leaving for pinch-hitter Ben Francisco, who hit an inning-ending flyout with a runner on second. Blanton struck out seven and walked two — Nick Swisher twice.

Following an 8-5 victory on Saturday night, New York got off to a quick start when Jeter reached on an infield single to second leading off, Damon doubled to right and Teixeira grounded to first.

Rodriguez, hit by Cole Hamels and Chad Durbin in Game 3, was plunked in the back with the next pitch, stood near the plate with hands on hips and stared at the Yankees dugout.

Umpires met near the mound, plate umpire Mike Everitt signaled the warning and the crowd started chanting, “You used steroids!”

Posada followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

The only other player hit three times in one World Series was Pittsburgh’s Max Carey in 1925.

Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom half. Shane Victorino hit a bloop to left field with one out that bounced just in front of and off a sliding Damon. Utley, who hit two solo homers against Sabathia in the opener, then doubled off the right-field wall.

Sabathia struck out Ryan Howard. Following an intentional walk to Jayson Werth, he also fanned Raul Ibanez.

Sabathia retired eight of nine around an intentional walk before a leadoff single in the fourth by Howard, who had been 2 for 14 (.143) in the Series with 10 strikeouts.

Howard stole second — he was eight for nine on stolen base attempts this year after swiping just two bases previously in his career. Feliz, who had been 4 for 41 against left-handers since Aug. 12, hit a two-hop single to left. Damon threw to the plate, but the 235-pound Howard barreled toward Posada, ready to lower his left elbow, and the ball skipped away from the catcher. Replays appeared to show Howard went over the plate without touching it.

New York came right back to take a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Blanton retired 10 in a row before a four-pitch leadoff walk to Swisher, and Melky Cabrera followed with a grounder to the right of second that Utley tried to catch and flip, only to have to have it pop into the air for a single.

Sabathia struck out when he fouled off a bunt attempt and Jeter singled through the hole between shortstop and third, raising his Series average to .438 (7 for 16). Damon followed with a soft single to right that dropped in front of Werth, and Cabrera slid home ahead of the throw — going back to touch the plate just in case he missed it.

Blanton escaped further damage when Teixeira and Rodriguez flied out.

Philadelphia threatened in the fifth when Jimmy Rollins singled leading off and Victorino walked, but Utley and Howard popped out, and Werth struck out.

Cabrera was replaced by Brett Gardner in center field in the middle of the sixth inning after he appeared to injure a leg while running to first.

Sabathia became the first Series starter on three days’ rest since Josh Beckett pitched a five-hit shutout against the Yankees for Florida in the 2003 finale. Pitchers starting on short rest were 2-0 in their last three starts, with Beckett preceded by the Angels’ John Lackey in 2002 and Arizona’s Curt Schilling in 2001.

Sabathia entered 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in eight career starts on short rest, losing to the Phillies for Milwaukee in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

This is the first time a team has reached the World Series with just three postseason starters since the 1992 Atlanta Braves stuck with Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery, according to STATS LLC. The last team to win the World Series with only three postseason starters was the 1991 Minnesota Twins with Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson.

While the team leading 2-1 was just 40-40 in Game 4 of the Series, 34 of the 40 teams taking 3-1 Series leads have gone on to win the title.

Earlier Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the New York Giants 40-17 across the street. It marked the first time two teams from the same cities met in the NFL and the World Series in the same city on the same day, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Phillies have won five straight postseason Game 4s.