MLB

• Yankees take early lead in Game 4

  
  

  Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees got two early hits off Joe Blanton and scored twice in the first inning, on the way to a 2-1 lead over Philadelphia through three innings in Game 4 of the World Series.

  The Yankees, aiming for their 27th title, lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1, over the defending World Series champions.

  Coming off an 8-5 victory Saturday night, the Yankees jumped out early on Blanton as Derek Jeter legged out an infield single on a ball hit to the right side. Second baseman Chase Utley made a diving stop, but slipped attempting to throw to first. Johnny Damon doubled to right and Mark Teixeira followed with an RBI groundout to first.

  Alex Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch for the third time in two nights, this time in the back.

  Home plate umpire Mike Everitt warned both benches, and Jorge Posada followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring when Raul Ibanez bounced a throw to the plate past catcher Carlos Ruiz.

  CC Sabathia started on the mound for New York on short rest and gave up back- to-back doubles in the bottom of the first to Shane Victorino and Chase Utley to account for the current margin. Utley's hit came off the wall in right.

  Each team was retired in order in the second and third innings.

  Rodriguez tied a World Series record by being hit three times with a pitch, joining Max Carey for Pittsburgh in 1925.

  Sabathia became the first pitcher to start a World Series game on three days' rest since Florida's Josh Beckett on October 25, 2003.

  Beckett pitched a complete game five-hit shutout in the Marlins' clinching victory at Yankee Stadium that night.

  Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced Sunday afternoon that he's decided to start A.J.

  Burnett on three days' rest for Monday's Game 5. The defending World Series-champion Phillies will start lefty Cliff Lee.

  This is just the second time that World Series games are being be played in the month of November. In 2001, Games 5, 6 and 7 between the Diamondbacks and Yankees were played in November due to the delay of the regular season with the tragic events of September 11.

  Philadelphia is 1-5 in Game 4 of the World Series, with the lone win coming last year.

  11/01 21:23:06 ET