Jayson Werth's 2 HR weren't enough for the Phillies in Game 3

After two pitching duels in New York, the first game in Philly provided plenty of fireworks. Home runs by Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez (I’ll get to this one in a bit), Jayson Werth (2 times) and Carlos Ruiz gave fans more than enough reason to hang around and watch this one after a hour and 20 minute rain delay.

Game 3 was easily the most exciting game of the series, and the first time both offenses got to the opposing starter. Cole Hamels made it into the 5th inning, but gave up five runs to Yankees hitters. Hamels hasn’t gone six full innings in any of his four postseason starts. And including the regular season, he’s 1-5 with a 7.32 ERA in his last seven starts. Andy Pettitte didn’t pitch great, but did enough to earn the win, 6 innings, 4 runs allowed. Althought, Pettitte did help out his cause in the 5th by driving in Nick Swisher, the first RBI by a Yankee pitcher in a World Series game since 1964 when “Ball Four” author Jim Bouton drove in Tom Tresh.

The Yankees offense drove in three runners off the Phillies bullpen, including a Nick Swisher HR. That hit for Swisher may have secured his starting spot for the rest of this series. He was benched in Game 2 in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr and nearly didn’t play right field with Hideki Matsui’s hot bat.

A-Rod’s Double-then-HR brought the Yankees to within one run of the Philly lead in the 4th. While the call was reversed, what’s interesting is that the umpires decided before the game that any ball hitting camera above the right-field fence would automatically be a home run.

For the Phillies, Jayson Werth’s 7 HR this postseason puts him one behind Carlos Beltran (2004) and Barry Bonds (2002) for the major league record. Carlos Ruiz continues to play well this postseason going 1-2 with two runs scored, two walks and a HR in Game 3. He now has a .343/.489/.600 this postseason in 35 AB. Small sample size? Sure, but it never hurts to have your catcher going on a hitting tear.

Interesting note…nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-all went on to take the title. The exception was the 2003 Yankees, who lost the next three games to Florida.

Up next: Game 4 is today, 7:20 CST first pitch. Joe Blanton vs. CC Sabathia. That comes as end of a great triple-header for Fox Sports. First is Giants-Eagles, nice timing of that, Second is Favre’s return to Green Bay then WS Game 3.