Utley ties Jackson's record for homers in a Series

[November 03, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Chase Utley ripped a no-doubt-about-it shot to right, put his head down and ran around the bases so quickly he nearly passed Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino.

Even in the World Series, Utley doesn't pause to admire his homers. He's had plenty of opportunities, too, connecting five times to tie Reggie Jackson's record set in 1977 with the Yankees.

"Obviously it's great company," Utley said. "At some point, not right now, maybe I'll look back on it and see what kind of special moment it is. But right now our goal is to win two more games."

Another big swing from Utley got the Philadelphia Phillies started, and they broke out of their hitting funk in an 8-6 victory over New York in Game 5 on Monday night.

Utley hit a three-run shot off A.J. Burnett in the first inning and a solo homer off Phil Coke in the seventh, becoming the second player to have two multihomer games in a World Series. Willie Aikens did it for Kansas City against the Phillies in 1980.

Coming in, Utley didn't have a hit in the Series off any pitcher except CC Sabathia. He had an RBI double and three solo homers off the big lefty, including two in the opener.

"Chase, when he gets hot, definitely he can get hot and stay hot for a month or two, knock on wood," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's swinging the bat good, and things are going real good for him."

Trying to become the seventh team to ever rally from a 3-1 deficit in the World Series, the Phillies forced the first Game 6 since the Florida Marlins beat the Yankees in six in 2003. The Series resumes in New York on Wednesday night.

The defending champs weren't going to let the Yankees celebrate in their house.

With Cliff Lee on the mound, it didn't seem the Phillies would need many runs. Lee has been dominant in the postseason. He came in with a dazzling 0.54 ERA in four starts.

Pitching on regular rest, Lee didn't have his best stuff. He allowed five runs in seven-plus innings, but the offense bailed him out and the left-hander improved to 4-0 in the playoffs.

If the Phillies force a seventh game, Lee could be out there again on just two days' rest Thursday. It would be his turn to throw a side session, and Manuel said he'll consider using him for a few innings.

"I'm available," Lee said.

Utley and the rest of the slumping big boppers made sure that possibility still exists.

Raul Ibanez, who was just 3 for 16 in the Series, hit a solo homer and RBI single. Rollins had two hits and Jayson Werth had a key RBI single and was robbed of extra bases by center fielder Brett Gardner.

After New York jumped to a 1-0 lead on a RBI double by Alex Rodriguez in the first, the Phils answered in their half.

Rollins led off with a single and Victorino took a fastball off his hand after squaring to bunt. Victorino went down in pain, but got up and stayed in until the eighth. X-rays on his finger were negative and Victorino said he was OK.

Utley hit Burnett's next pitch -- a 94 mph fastball -- over the right-field fence to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead. He circled the bases so quickly that he rounded third before Rollins and Victorino had even crossed the plate.

The All-Star second baseman is too old-school to flip his bat, stand at the plate, jog slowly or doing anything flashy.

"He don't like for you to say a whole lot of things about him," Manuel said. "But he's one of the most prepared, one of the most dedicated, he has the most desire and passion to play the game that I've ever been around. I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. The only thing Kirby might have on Chase is he's more flamboyant because he smiles a lot, and Chase is a little bit different. He's quiet and he goes about his business in a real good way."

Utley got things going in the third with a leadoff walk. He stole second before Ryan Howard walked. Werth lined an RBI single and Ibanez singled in another run, chasing Burnett. Carlos Ruiz hit a fielder's choice grounder to knock in the sixth run.

Burnett pitched a gem against the Phillies in Game 2, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings of a 3-1 victory. He frustrated Philadelphia with a biting curveball and many hitters took first-pitch strikes.

The Phillies came out swinging this time.

Jackson hit five homers for the Yankees the '77 Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mr. October had three in New York's clinching victory in Game 6.

After Utley went deep off Coke, Howard struck out for the 12th time in the Series, tying Willie Wilson's record. Wilson struck out 12 times against the Phillies in 1980. Tug McGraw fanned Wilson for the final out to secure Philadelphia's first championship.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

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