Top 5 Yankees vs Phillies Matches to Rewatch
It’s not often that MLB teams from different leagues are able to create a long string of memorable moments. But the NY Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies aren’t normal teams. They are two of the oldest and most distinguished clubs in MLB history. If you can get your hands on Yankees vs Phillies tickets during interleague play, you won’t want to let that opportunity go by without seizing it. Short of that, there are plenty of past games between the NY Yankees and Phillies that are worth revisiting. Of all the games between these fierce East Coast foes over the years, here are five that are worth rewatching.
2009 World Series, Game 1
For Phillies fans, it doesn’t get any better than this game. At the time, the Phillies were reigning World Series champs and seeking a second straight title. The World Series got started at Yankee Stadium but Cliff Lee stole the show with one of the great postseason pitching performances of all-time despite the Yankees being heavily favored to steamroll Philadelphia. Lee struck out seven over the first five innings while only allowing three hits with the Phillies clinging to a 1-0 lead.
By the time the Yankees scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th, the Phillies led 6-0. When all was said and done, Lee struck out 10 and allowed just six hits with no walks while pitching a complete game. He became the first lefty to beat the Yankees in Game 1 of a World Series at Yankee Stadium since Sandy Koufax did it in 1963, making it a truly historic occasion for Lee and the Phillies. If you want to watch a true masterpiece of pitching, check out Lee’s performance in this game.
2009 World Series, Game 6
Despite Lee’s brilliance in Game 1, the Yankees ultimately prevailed in the 2009 World Series, with the series-clinching Game 6 being the most memorable of New York’s wins. Andy Petitte made the start for New York on just three day’s rest but delivered another clutch postseason performance.
The win was even sweeter for the Bronx Bombers because they faced Pedro Martinez, an old foe from his days with the Red Sox. The Yankees scored two runs against Martinez in the second inning and two more in the third inning, ultimately chasing him from the game after four innings. Three more runs in the fifth inning gave the NY Yankees more than enough cushion in the game. Ultimately, Martinez took the loss for the second time in the series while legendary closer Mariano Rivera recorded the final five outs of the game to give the Yankees their 27th World Series title.
2009 World Series, Game 5
In terms of excitement, Game 5 might be the best game of the 2009 World Series between the Yankees and Phillies. Again, it was Cliff Lee on the mound for Philadelphia. Despite giving up a run in the first inning, he ultimately settled in and pitched another great game. Meanwhile, the Phillies jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three innings, which should have been more than enough for Lee.
However, Lee couldn’t go the distance the way he did in Game 1. When he tired, the Yankees did some damage against the Philadelphia bullpen. Three runs from the Bronx Bombers in the top of the 8th inning made it an 8-5 Phillies lead. The Yankees started a rally, only to see Derek Jeter ground into a double play. But the Yankees still managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the 9th. With the game on the line, Ryan Madsen struck out Mark Teixeira to close out an 8-6 win for Philadelphia and keep the Phillies alive.
1950 World Series, Game 2
If you can find a time machine or some old home movies, you might be able to check out the 1950 World Series between the Yankees and Phillies. While the Yankees swept the series, the four games couldn’t have been much closer. Game 2 was a classic pitcher’s duel between Robin Roberts and Allie Reynolds. In the sixth inning, Joe DiMaggio had a game-changing catch on a fly ball to deep center field. The catch itself is similar to the famous catch Willie Mays would make in the World Series four years later. Naturally, DiMaggio became the difference-maker a few innings later, leading off the 10th inning with a home run to put the Yankees ahead 2-1 to break the 1-1 stalemate and give New York a 2-0 series lead.
1950 World Series, Game 3
The Phillies had a chance to get back into the series in Game 3 and looked poised to do so. Runs in the 6th and 7th innings gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead late in the game. However, Ken Heintzelman walked the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, allowing the Yankees to tie the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees strung together three straight two-out singles, with Jerry Coleman delivering the final hit in the sequence to give New York a 3-2 walk-off win. The win gave the Yankees a 3-0 series lead, and it was all over but the crying for Philadelphia, as the Yankees would win Game 4 and complete the sweep.