Yankees take 2-1 lead behind Sabathia after 3 innings in World Series Game 4

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Yankees take 2-1 lead after 3 innings in Game 4

PHILADELPHIA — The New York Yankees took a 2-1 lead after three innings in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night as Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch for the third time in two games, prompting umpires to warn both teams about throwing inside.

Joe Blanton, making just his second postseason start this year for Phillies, retired eight straight hitters after hitting Rodriguez. Blanton, the Game 4 winner against Tampa Bay last year, struck out three in the first three innings, all called. He needed just 32 pitches.

Yankees ace CC Sabathia, who lost to Cliff Lee in the opener, allowed consecutive doubles to Shane Victorino and Chase Utley in the third, then retired eight of nine batters around an intentional walk.

Ahead two games to one after an 8-5 victory on Sunday night, New York scored two runs in the first as the Series extended into November for only the second time.

Derek Jeter reached on an infield single to second leading off, Johnny Damon doubled to right and Mark Teixeira had an RBI grounder to first that put New York ahead.

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!”

Jorge 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. 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, who dropped to 2 for 14 (.143) in the Series with 10 strikeouts. Following an intentional walk to Jayson Werth, he also fanned Raul Ibanez.

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.