Yankees beat Phillies to level World Series

AFP - The first World Series victory for the New York Yankees at their new 1.5 billion-dollar stadium might just help bring over some of the missing mystique from the ancient ballpark next door.

The Yankees, seeking a 27th title in their first season at the new Yankee Stadium, beat reigning World Series champion Philadelphia 3-1 on Thursday to level Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship final at 1-1.

Towering beside the new stadium is an 86-year-old landmark, once a playground for boxers Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali and baseball icons Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio but now a ghostly shell of faded glory set to be dismantled.

"We remember what we did at the old Yankee Stadium and hopefully we can bring that to the new Yankee Stadium," said Yankee closing relief ace Mariano Rivera, who stretched his career Series saves record to 10 on Thursday.

After 64 World Series game victories and 26 championship seasons at the original "House That Ruth Built", the Yankees won in their second try at a home park constructed for the need to increase income for baseball's richest club.

"I've wathed playoff games at Yankee Stadium, just all the mystique that came with it. Compared to what this is like, I would have to say it's completely different," said Phillies slugger Jimmy Rollins.

"They had a legacy over there. Here it's brand new. It's a different ballpark. It's bigger, prettier with a lot of jumboscreens everywhere. It's a lot different from what I would have expected."

But with the Yankees three victories shy of starting a new tradition of triumph in the new park, Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte - part of the last four Yankee titles in the old park - can see the legacy building anew.

"It is sad when you think about everything that's gone on over there, but this is everything we had hoped for," Pettitte said. "When we built this new stadium we hoped to be able to bring a World Series here."

And these Yankees are patient. A 6-1 loss in the opener was a setback, just not another obstacle for a club accustomed to overcoming them all season despite leading the majors with 103 victories, 915 runs and 244 home runs.

"One thing our club has been is very resilient," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We have been through some bad streaks but I feel good about the way our club has bounced back all year long.

"They have taken it upon themselves to do that. It hasn't been anything magical that I've said. It has just been the type of club this year's unit has been. We've been through some tough losses and we've been able to bounce back."

The Yankees led the major leagues this year with 51 comeback triumphs and rallied in six of their eight playoff wins this year. They have come from behind to win in 56 of their 130 Series triumphs, including Thursday's win over the stubborn Phillies.

"We have to battle," Yankees first baseman Johnny Damon said. "They are a very good team and we have to be better than we have been, but I think we've been OK."