NewsThree Phillies key to Game 6 lineup
Utley, Howard must figure out Pettitte along with Werth
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
11/03/09 8:15 PM EST
NEW YORK -- New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte did not have his best stuff against the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, but he was good enough.
He allowed five hits and four runs in six innings in an 8-5 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
He will be pitching on short rest Wednesday in Game 6, which could give the Phillies an advantage.
Here are three hitters in the Phillies lineup who must come up big against Pettitte at Yankee Stadium to send the Phillies to Game 7 on Thursday:
Chase Utley
Utley is having a fantastic World Series. He is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with one double, five home runs and eight RBIs. He has tied Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a single World Series. His 1.222 slugging percentage is the seventh-best in World Series history.
But Utley struggled against Pettitte in Game 3. He went 0-for-3. He struck out swinging in the first inning with a runner on second and one out. He struck out looking in the second, when the Phillies had Pettitte on the ropes with runners on first and second with two outs. He then grounded out to Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira in the fifth.
Utley has had success against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. He will need to find a similar groove against Pettitte.
Ryan Howard
As hot as Utley has been this postseason, Howard has not. He is hitting .158 (3-for-19) with two doubles, one RBI and two walks. He tied Willie Wilson for the most strikeouts in a single World Series with 12. Wilson struck out 12 times in six games in the 1980 World Series against the Phillies.
Howard's struggles clearly are hurting the Phillies. He went 0-for-3 against Pettitte in Game 3. He struck out swinging in the first inning to strand Jimmy Rollins on second. He struck out swinging to lead off the third inning and popped out to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter to end the fifth.
Howard hit .355 with two homers and 14 RBIs in the first two rounds of the postseason, earning National League Championship Series MVP honors in the process. They need him to find that form quickly in Game 6.
"When he's really good, he's a very good, polished looking hitter," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "When he's struggling ... it's the pitcher and the fact that he's not following the ball."
Jayson Werth
Werth had a huge game against Pettitte in Game 3, although it came in a losing cause. He hit a solo homer to left field to leadoff the second inning. He flied out to right field in the third and hit a solo homer to left field in the sixth.
If Utley, Howard and Raul Ibanez -- who went 0-for-3 against Pettitte -- struggle against Pettitte, the Phillies will need a similar monstrous performance from Werth, who splits up the left-handed-hitting Utley, Howard and Ibanez.
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
