Utley powers Phillies to Game 5 victory
The Associated Press
1:21 AM EST November 3, 2009

By the ninth inning, Phillies fans were preparing for the worst.

The New York Yankees were at it again, chipping away at a dwindling lead and threatening to take away the Phils' World Series title right there at Citizens Bank Park.

Desperate to hang on, somehow Chase Utley and the Phillies did. Derek Jeter grounded into a double play, Mark Teixeira struck out, and Philadelphia staved off the Yankees and elimination with an 8-6 win in Game 5 on Monday night.

Now comes the hard part: winning twice at Yankee Stadium.

Game 6 will be played Wednesday night, with New York's Andy Pettitte going on short rest against Pedro Martinez, not exactly a beloved figure in the Bronx.

Utley hit two home runs to raise his Series total to a record-tying five, Cliff Lee won again and Philadelphia cut its deficit to 3-2.

"We didn't have a choice. It was either go home and watch football and college basketball or extend the season," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.

Ahead 8-2, the Phillies watched New York score three times in the eighth inning and put its first two batters on in the ninth. Jeter's grounder drove in a run, but the fans on their feet couldn't exhale until Teixeira struck out as the tying run.

Whew!

Utley hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the first inning off A.J. Burnett and added a solo shot in the seventh to join Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit five home runs in a single World Series.

"It's pretty cool," Utley said. "It's pretty surreal. I'm glad we got the win tonight. We're going back to Yankee Stadium."

Philadelphia replicated its winning formula from the opener, when Utley hit two solo homers and Lee pitched a six-hitter. Raul Ibanez set off fireworks from the Liberty Bell one last time, adding a second solo shot in the seventh off Phil Coke that made it 8-2.

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