DUGOUT: Yankees take 2-1 lead over Phillies in World Series

Were Cliff Lee able to pitch every game of this World Series, the city of Philadelphia would have little to worry about.

Last Wednesday night, in front of a sold out Yankee Stadium, Lee out-dueled New York ace CC Sabathia in a 6-1 Phillies victory.

Giving up just one run in nine innings of work, Lee became the first pitcher to throw a complete game in Game 1 of the World Series since Greg Maddux in 1995. Additionally, Lee is just the third World Series pitcher to strike out ten while walking none, and the first to do so in 60 years.

After eight innings, the Philadelphia Phillies boasted a 6-0 lead after 105 pitches from Lee. While allowing Lee a chance at the complete game was a noble choice, it eliminated any chance he had at pitching three games in the Series.

Sabathia, credited with the loss, pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, giving up just two runs: both solo home runs to Chase Utley. Ryan Howard had two doubles in the contest.

Although allowing Lee to throw 122 pitches in a 6-1 victory will decrease Lee's role in the Series, it gave the Philadelphia bullpen an extra day or rest. This was important to manager Charlie Manuel because Pedro Martinez was slated to pitch Game 2, from whom no one knew what to expect.

As it turned out, Martinez pitched effectively, but was bested by AJ Burnett. Despite six strikeouts from Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, Burnett managed to last seven innings while giving up just one run. Rodriguez became the first position player in baseball history to strike out three times in consecutive World Series games.

New York fans have all but forgotten his previous .438/.548/.969 tear in both the ALDS and ALCS. Rodriguez struck out just five times in the nine games prior to the World Series.

Striking out nine and walking just two, Burnett paved the way for a two-inning save from Mariano Rivera, his 14th career two-inning postseason save. Behind blasts from Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui, the Yankees evened the series at 1-1 before traveling to Philadelphia.

Following an 80-minute rain delay in Philadelphia to start Game 3, Jayson Werth got the Phillies got on the board first with a lead-off solo shot to left field in the second inning. Following that, the Phillies managed to load the bases and push their lead to 3-0.

In the fourth, Rodriguez answered his critics, yet again, with a two-run blast that actually hit the right field camera. After the baseball equivalent of a booth review, the home run was verified. Phillie's starting pitcher Cole Hamels was roughed up in the fifth inning, allowing opposing pitcher Andy Pettitte to hit an RBI single and giving up a two-run double to Johnny Damon.

After Hamels was relieved, Nick Swisher, who's slumping bat was benched in Game 2, launched a home run to left field. Werth followed with his second shot of the day to bring the Yankee lead to two runs. It was Werth's second two-home run game this postseason.

Pettitte, 37, allowed three Philadelphia runs during six innings in his 12th World Series start. Jorge Posada and Masui tacked on a few additional runs against a shaky Philadelphia bullpen to eventually win the game 8-5.

With a 2-1 series advantage, the Yankees will send Sabathia to the mound on Monday night on three days of rest (6:20 p.m., FOX) for Game 4 against Joe Blanton. Game 5 (Monday, 5:57 p.m., FOX) will feature Lee and either Burnett on short rest or Chad Gaudin.

Andrew Kneeland is a junior at the Arizona Virtual Academy. He is an intern at the Green Valley News.