A-Rod's Clutch Double Sparks 7-4 Game 4 Win

Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, two-out double in the ninth inning off Brad Lidge and the Yankees beat the Phillies, 7-4, tonight in Philadelphia to claim a 3-1 lead in the World Series. Joba Chamberlain opened the door for the Phillies, yielding a homer to Pedro Feliz with two out in the eighth to tie the score at 4, but A-Rod, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera pulled it out as the Yankees moved within one win of their elusive 27th championship.

Seething after again being hit by a pitch in the first—for a Series record-tying third time— Rodriguez struck back with his potent black bat. In the ninth, he faced Lidge, making his first World Series appearance since striking out Eric Hinske to clinch the title last year, and shook off any lingering doubts about his postseason fortitude. AJ Burnett will try to wrap things up Monday night on short rest, opposed by Cliff Lee, who's been on the shelf since winning Game 1. (More 2009 World Series stories.)