The New York Yankees scored three runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 and take a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

The go ahead moved to third with two outs when Johnny Damon managed to steal two bases on one pitch.  Lidge got Hideki Matsui to pop out before he fanned Derek Jeter but he then game up a single to Damon.  He waited just one pitch before taking off to second base, arriving just before the throw short-hopped into the glove of Pedro Feliz.  Damon, realizing that no one was covering third, and that he had a step on Feliz, out-ran the thirdbaseman and put himself 90-feet away from pay dirt.

Mariano Rivera did his part, closing out the bottom of the frame by retiring three straight for his fifth save of the playoffs, securing a two-game lead for the Yankees in the best-of-seven series.

C.C. Sabathia made the start for the New York and lasted six and two-thirds innings before getting chased by Chase Utley's homerun.  Damaso Marte finished the seventh but Joba Chamberlain couldn't escape the eighth without giving up the tying solo shot to Pedro Feliz.  Despite the mistake, Chamberlain still got the win for being on record when Rodriguez started the rally.

Rodriguez, who was 0 for 8 in the series before he hit a two-run homer in Game 3 on Saturday, was plunked by Phillies starter Joe Blanton in the first inning which earned a warning to both benches.  It was the third time the Rodriguez was hit by a Philadelphia pitcher in four games.

Blanton hit Rodriguez in the back just one pitch after Jeter scored the first run of the game when Teixeira grounded out to first.  Jorge Posada sac-flew in one more run before Blanton could get out of the inning.

Blanton also gave up RBI-singles to Jeter and Damon in the fifth, but made it through the sixth before giving way to the pen.  Blanton allowed five hits and struck out seven.

Philadelphia will now need another brilliant performance from Cliff Lee to avoid elimination as he takes the mound Monday night in Game 5 facing A.J. Burnett.  Lee has made four starts and collected a 3-0 record.  Burnett has also made four starts but his only win came against the Phillies in Game 2.