A-Rod Lifts Yankees To 3-1 Lead In World Series

Enlarge Eric Gay/AP

The New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez connects for a double in the ninth inning that drove in the go-ahead run in a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Eric Gay/AP

The New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez connects for a double in the ninth inning that drove in the go-ahead run in a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alex Rodriguez waited all game for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole career.

Rodriguez delivered the biggest hit of his life, a go-ahead, two-out double in the ninth inning off Brad Lidge and the New York Yankees took advantage of Johnny Damon's alert dash to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Sunday night for a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

Derek Jeter delivered all game and Mariano Rivera closed it out as the Yankees moved within one win of that elusive 27th championship and first since 2000. Rodriguez could really savor this victory — seething after again being hit by a pitch, he struck back with his potent black bat.

The Yankees will try to clinch it Monday night when A.J. Burnett faces October ace Cliff Lee.

Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz hit late home runs for the Phillies that tied it at 4. Then it moved to the ninth and Phils brought in Lidge — a postseason star last year, who had struggled all season before regaining his touch this October.

But November was not so kind to him.

In his first World Series appearance since striking out Eric Hinske to clinch the title last year, Lidge gave up three runs in the ninth.

Lidge had turned around a nightmare season by going 1-0 with three saves in three chances this postseason. He didn't pitch in the first three games against the Yankees before entering a tie game in the ninth.

After retiring the first two batters, the hard-throwing right-hander fell apart. He nearly struck out Johnny Damon on a 2-2 pitch that barely missed. Damon then lined a 3-2 pitch to left for a single. Damon stole second on the first pitch to Mark Teixeira, got up after sliding and took third with no one covering because of an exaggerated shift.

Lidge hit Teixeira with a pitch, bringing up Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod lined an RBI double to put the Yankees ahead and Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4.

Lidge hadn't allowed a run in five appearances this postseason.

Now the defending champs are on the verge of elimination. They'll turn to pitching ace Cliff Lee, who shut down the Yankees in Game 1.