World Series Game Four: Damon, A-Rod, and Posada Drive Lidge to the Ledge! Yanks 7 – Phils 4.

When Joe Blanton was named to oppose CC Sabathia in Game Four, I expected the Yankees to pound their way to a victory for CC!

But, no… Blanton displayed unexpected toughness, despite giving up 4 runs in 6 innings. And Sabathia, once again, pitched well enough to win (surrendering 3 runs in 6 2/3) but failed to do. Chase (“Muttley”) Utley crushed another solo home run off CC, who gave way to Joba Chamberlain and a game-tying homer to Pedro Feliz. 4-4 after eight innings!

Ah, but in the ninth, the Yankees got to one-time great closer Brad Lidge.

With two outs (and Lidge seemingly cruising) Johnny Damon singled and stole second… but he didn’t stop there. Alertly noting the infield shifted to the right side for batter Mark Teixeira – and that third baseman Feliz had caught the throw at second – Damon popped up like a jack-(Johnny?)-in-the-box and outran Feliz to third!

No one was covering third because Feliz was at second! His teammates were as stunned at the play as I was watching it on TV!

Teixeira was hit by a pitch, setting up Alex Rodriguez to come through with an RBI double, scoring Damon, to put the Yankees ahead 5-4. Jorge Posada followed with a single that plated Teixeira and A-Rod! So, should we call him “Brad On-The-Ledge”?

The great Mariano Rivera tossed an 8-pitch ninth inning to win Game Four for the Yankees!

Oh, and the reason we have “Rocky the Flying Squirrel” at the top of this post?

It’s because Ryan Howard scored the first Phillies run – but REALLY DIDN’T!

Just like Rocky, he FLEW OVER HOME PLATE, NEVER TOUCHING IT! Yet, the umpire called him safe!

If not for that play, CC would have most likely won the game by one run… however the ninth inning heroics by Damon, A-Rod, and Posada (not to mention Lidge’s meltdown) would have been less of a factor (if at all), so I’ll take the trade off in terms of drama alone!

Still, replay would clearly show Howard’s “flight path”, and invalidated his run! So, I say again, bring on a fully-expanded system of Video Review to Major League Baseball! … That way it can remain “Major” League!