Phillies Chase Series back to New York

Utley belts two homers, Lee notches win to force Game 6

Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- It looked like manager Charlie Manuel had something to say to his players when he stepped into the Phillies' clubhouse before Game 5 of the World Series on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

But then he looked around and changed his mind. He heard the music blaring and saw his players relaxing and having fun. He realized his players needed no pep talk after suffering a killer loss Sunday in Game 4. They would be OK, and they were OK during an 8-6 victory over the Yankees, which forced the series to Game 6 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

"No one panics," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "Never have."

The Phillies had no need to panic. They had Cliff Lee on the mound and Chase Utley swinging a hot bat.

Lee went 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA in his first four starts this postseason, which was the lowest ERA of any pitcher in a single postseason with 30 or more innings. He had allowed just two earned runs in 33 1/3 innings. He had allowed just 20 hits and three walks and had struck out 30. Opponents had hit just .171 against him.

Utley was hitting .292 with four home runs and six RBIs this postseason.

Lee allowed two runs through his first seven innings before he found trouble in the eighth. Utley hit a three-run home run in the first to give the Phils a 3-0 lead and a solo home run in the seventh to make it 7-2, which proved to be big as the Yankees scored three runs in the eighth and another run in the ninth to give Phillies fans a few tense moments.

Lee, who allowed five runs in seven-plus innings, is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts this World Series and 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA this postseason.

Does this make Utley Mr. November?

"I don't think my command was as good as it has been," Lee said. "It was a little off. It was a game where I had to battle a little bit.