Chase Utley took advantage of two CC Sabathia mistakes. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

After trading zeros with his former mate from Cleveland, Cliff Lee, for two innings, C. C. Sabathia finally was touched up by Chase Utley for a long bomb into his favorite area, right near the right field foul pole. Yes, the same area Gary decided to christen Chase’s Corner. So glad the Mets aren’t the only team this creep beats. The game then settled back down to zeros for another few innings.

Then in the bottom of the 5th, the bugaboo of baseball struck again, horrible umpiring. The ball was hit to Rollins, who caught it off his shoetops, and relayed it over to Howard to catch the runner of the bag at first. The second base ump signaled the ball in play as an out. Somehow, confusion reigned, and the batter, already called out, stood on first. The umps caucused for at least two minutes, and decided that, yes, in fact, everybody was out. They made the right call, but what has been endemic all year showed up early in this series. We will see it again before the series ends, mark my words.

In the top of the 6th, Utley- a newly minted record holder for consecutive playoff games on base- went yard once again, showing that he is quite healthy, and that he might just win the series all by his little lonesome, with an assist from Lee on the bump.

Lee burned through the Yankee lineup, not once, not twice, but thrice, shutting down the feared Yankees lineup. His WHIP through 8 was a minscule .50. Pure filth.

In the 8th, after an aborted Phil Hughes appearance, Damaso Marte came on with two on and no outs. Two outs and a walk later, a single by Ibanez with the bases loaded chased two home for a 4-0 lead.

The hit Rollins had in the top of the ninth was defining moment of both teams evenings. It trickled about 60 feet, stayed fair, and eventually helped score a run. The Yankees looked helpless all night, justlikeonthat play. Brian Bruney (remember him K-Rod?) melted down and gave up three straight hits and nearly threw three or four in the dirt. What an assclown. Phil Coke came on, and two more Philly baserunners crossed the plate, leaving the score 6-0.

Lee stayed on the hill in the ninth to end what he started. Facing the top of the order, Jeter and Damon reached base. On a ground ball that should have been a double play, Rollins air-mailed the throw to break up the shutout. Lee then fanned Mr. April, A*Rod, and the man with radar dishes on his head, Jorge Posada. A complete game victory for Lee might just win him a new car along with the MVP.

The game turned on the bullpen performance of New York. Simply terrible. If it isn’t Mariano, they suck. As the brilliant Tim McCarver said, “Tack-on runs lose games.” This is why he gets the big bucks. He and Buck are such douchbags.

Game 2 is tomorrow night, Burnett vs. Pedro. Oh, and Jay-Z is performing. Sweet. Enjoy.