Phillies ace Lee may start Game 7 on 2 days' rest
By DAN GELSTON,
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Cliff Lee's perfect postseason might not be over yet.
Lee could earn a Game 7 start for the Philadelphia Phillies if they force the World Series to a decisive game against the New York Yankees.
"As far as my availability, I'm available," Lee said.
The Phillies' left-handed ace has been flawless in the postseason with a 4-0 record and a 1.56 ERA in five starts. Manager Charlie Manuel bypassed Lee for a Game 4 start on three days' rest because he wanted to keep him on his regular schedule.
He wasn't his usual dominant self taking his normal turn in Game 5 on Monday night. Lee had far from his best stuff and allowed five runs in seven-plus innings before his bullpen bailed him out in Philadelphia's 8-6 win over the Yankees.
"It's a game where I had to battle a little more than I've had to the past few games," Lee said. "Thankfully we scored a lot of runs. We won, that's the bottom line."
Manuel said one reason he didn't start Lee in Game 4 on short rest was because of concerns of his heavy workload.
Lee pitched 231 2-3 innings for the Indians and Phillies this season, and another 40 1-3 innings in the playoffs. Lee, the Game 1 winner, has pitched at least seven innings in all five postseason starts.
Manuel's philosophy might change if Game 6 starter Pedro Martinez can help the Phillies win Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium and tie the Series at 3.
Lee would usually throw a bullpen session on Thursday. Manuel might use him for a few innings on just two days' rest.
"We don't know about that yet," Manuel said. "I'll talk to him about what he thinks about if he can pitch at all or something."
A-ROD'S RECORDS: A-Rod is atop the Yankees' postseason RBI list.
Alex Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with three RBIs in Game 5 and now has knocked in 18 runs this postseason. He set the team record with 16 on an RBI double in the first inning of New York's 8-6 loss to the Phillies on Monday night.
Rodriguez passed Bernie Williams (1996) and Scott Brosius (1998), who each had 15. Rodriguez is also closing in on the single postseason record for RBIs. Cleveland's Sandy Alomar Jr. (1997), Anaheim's Scott Spiezio (2002) and Boston's David Ortiz (2004) all had 19.
VICTORINO INJURED: Shane Victorino swiveled on a chair toward the pack of media and flashed two thumbs up. His hand was fine and he expects to play in Game 6.
"Two thumbs up everybody," he said. "That's all you need to know."
Victorino put a scare into the Phillies after he was hit on the right index finger by an A.J. Burnett fastball in the first inning. He shook his head and stayed in the game, scoring on Chase Utley's three-run homer.
Though X-rays were negative, the Phillies center fielder was clearly in discomfort the rest of the way in Philadelphia's 8-6 Game 5 win over the Yankees on Monday night. He gingerly removed his batting gloves after each at-bat and had trouble gripping the bat and throwing the ball because his finger was swollen.
He grimaced and shook his wrist after popping out in the second inning.
"When I first got hit, I said, 'Oh no, this doesn't feel right,'" Victorino said. "I went in and threw and it felt fine. I'm happy for that."
Victorino, a native of Hawaii, went 0 for 3 and was replaced in the eighth inning by Ben Francisco. Victorino might catch a break with Tuesday's off day before the Series resumes on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Victorino didn't know he was replaced until he saw Francisco in center. Victorino pleaded with manager Charlie Manuel to leave him in the game and move Francisco to left field to replace the slower Raul Ibanez. Manuel shook his head no.
"I wanted to play," Victorino said. "There was some miscommunication, but other than that, everything was fine."
Maybe Manuel should have listened to his All-Star after Ibanez failed to grab Mark Teixeira's double in the eighth.
Victorino said Burnett apologized. Burnett shattered Jayson Werth's wrist in a 2005 spring training game when Werth was playing with the Dodgers.
It's been a rough World Series for center fielders. Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera has a slightly strained left hamstring and was replaced on the roster.
New York's Brett Gardner made a fantastic catch to rob Werth in the fifth inning. He made a leaping, outstretched grab and slammed his back into the wall. He was down for a few minutes, but also stayed in the game.
GAME 6: Pedro Martinez will get another shot to win a World Series game at Yankee Stadium. Martinez, who lost Game 2, will start Game 6 on Wednesday as the Phillies try and force a Game 7.
"He should go anywhere ... six, seven innings in a game, maybe longer, depends on how many pitches he throws early," manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Yankees likely will start Game 3 winner Andy Pettitte on three days' rest.
Manager Joe Girardi said he would name a starter after the Yankees work out on Tuesday.
"Physically I've got to see how he is," Girardi said. "He threw on the side today and felt good."
NUMBERS GAME: Joe Girardi's goal has always been on his back. The Yankees manager wears uniform No. 27 because the franchise has been chasing their 27th championship.
Girardi hadn't considered a uniform switch next season if the Yankees beat the Phillies.
But with New York holding a 3-2 edge in the Series, Girardi is focused on the present.
"I'm sure my kids would have recommendations what my uniform number should be, but I haven't thought about that and I don't like to think too far ahead," Girardi said.
Updated November 3, 2009
