World Series Game 2 Preview

Philadelphia Phillies (8-2) at New York Yankees (7-3), 7:57 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00) New York - A.J. Burnett (0-0, 4.42)

Pedro Martinez faces the New York Yankees on the biggest stage of them all tonight, as he tries to give the Philadelphia Phillies a commanding two games to none lead in the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Hated by Yankee fans during his time with the Boston Red Sox, then later with the Mets, Martinez, is no stranger to the Bronx. In 32 regular-season starts against the Yankees, he has a record of 11-11 with a 3.20 earned run average.

"I think in every aspect, the way you guys have used me and abused me since I've been coming to [Yankee] Stadium," said Martinez on being cast as the villain to Yankee fans. "I remember quotes in the paper, 'Here comes the man that New York loves to hate.' The man? None of you have ever eaten steak with me or rice and beans with me to understand what I'm all about as a man. You might say the player, the competitor, but the man? You guys have abused my name. You guys have said so many things and have written so many things [about me]."

The veteran right-hander had been 8-4 in the old stadium and pitched perhaps his best game there back in 1999 when he allowed one hit and struck out 17 in a complete game win.

This, though, will be his first appearance in the new ballpark.

"I don't know if you realize this, but because of you guys, in some ways, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped [on to the field] at Yankee Stadium," said Martinez. "I can honestly say that."

Martinez has also made six postseason appearances against the Yankees, while posting a mark of just 1-2. He started Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS at the old Yankee Stadium and had the Red Sox on the verge of a victory before the Yankees rallied and eventually won the game in extra innings on an Aaron Boone homer.

This will be his second World Series start. Martinez earned a victory for Boston in Game 3 of the 2004 Fall Classic against St. Louis. He twirled three- hit ball over seven scoreless innings at Busch Stadium, one day before the Red Sox won their first title in 86 years

The Phillies signed Martinez at the All-Star break and the three-time Cy Young winner made nine starts this season, posting a record of 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA.

"Actually, I didn't know as much about him, but I thought at times that he was cocky, which is fine," Manuel said. "Sometimes to be good you've got to be cocky, and sometimes [as a manager] you've got to let someone be who they are. Since I've gotten to know him, not only is he competitive, but he really studies the game and loves baseball. He's a baseball guy."

After being skipped in the Division Series against Colorado because of a postponement in frosty Denver, Martinez started Game 2 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and threw seven shutout innings while yielding just two hits. He did not factor into the decision after the Dodgers rallied against the Philadelphia bullpen for a 2-1 victory.

Philadelphia can only hope for the same type of effort from Martinez tonight that it received from Cliff Lee in Game 1 of this best-of-seven series on Wednesday, as the left-hander dominated the potent Yankees lineup with a complete-game gem in a 6-1 win.

Lee (1-0) surrendered just an unearned run in the ninth and struck out 10 without walking a batter to toss the first complete game in the World Series since Florida's Josh Beckett threw a gem in Game 6 of the 2003 Fall Classic at Yankee Stadium.

"I definitely have confidence. I have always been that way. This is the stage I've wanted to get to since I was a little kid," said Lee.

While Lee took care of business on the hill, Chase Utley provided the offense, as he became the first left-handed hitter to hit two home runs off a southpaw pitcher since Babe Ruth in 1928.

Utley, who had just one home run since mid-September, drilled two shots to right off of Yankee starter CC Sabathia and set a major league record in the process, as he reached base safely in his 26th straight postseason game.

"My approach is trying to make him work a little bit. He is a big, strong guy who can work a little bit. I was trying to hit the fastball," said Utley.

Raul Ibanez added a two-run single for the Phillies, who are attempting to become the first repeat World Series champion from the National League since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

Sabathia (0-1) struggled with his command and was charged with the loss, as he surrendered two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks over seven frames.

"CC got some balls in the middle of the plate to Utley and he made him pay," stated Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Derek Jeter had three hits for the Yankees, while Alex Rodriguez, who had entered this series hitting .438 this postseason, struck out three times, as New York lost its fourth straight World Series game.

Hoping to even things up for the Yankees tonight will be righty A.J. Burnett, who has yet to receive a decision this postseason, while pitching to a 4.42 ERA.

After two impressive starts in these playoffs Burnett surrendered four first inning runs to the Angels in Game 5 of the ALCS, before exiting in the seventh after allowing six runs and eight hits. He endured an up-and-down first year in pinstripes, going 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA.

"I won't change anything as far as my plan or my attack, just maybe not be so careless from the get go -- just throwing balls over the middle to get strike one," Burnett said.

Burnett has had little success against the Phillies in his career. He lost to them earlier in the season and is just 5-8 lifetime against them with a 4.75 ERA in 17 games, 16 of which have been starts.

These teams have a limited history against one another, but did square off once in the World Series back in 1950 when the Yankees swept the series in four games from the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia.

The Phillies also took two of three from the Yanks earlier this season at Yankee Stadium. Philadelphia won the opener, before New York rallied off of Lidge in the second contest. The Yankees got to Lidge again in the finale, but Philly managed to pick up an extra inning win in that one to capture the series.