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The 2009 World Series is underway and so far my predictions are coming to fruition as the teams are knotted up with one game apiece heading into Game 3 at Philadelphia on Saturday night.

The Phiilies thumped New York 6-1 in Game 1 behind a superb performance from left- handed AL Cy Young Award winner, Cliff Lee who pitched a complete game surrendering just one earned run on six hits while striking out 10 of the 32 Bronx batters he faced. Lee out dueled ALCS MVP C.C. Sabathia who toed the rubber seven innings for the Yanks, giving up just four hits and two runs, both coming by way of Phillies second baseman Chase Utley in the third and sixth innings.

Game 2 pitted they Yankees’ A.J. Burnett against Phillies veteran RHP Pedro Martinez. The 38-year old Martinez allowed three runs and six hits in six-plus innings, striking out eight in a 3-1 loss on Thursday night. The right-hander Burnett tossed first-pitch strikes to his first 11 batters, notching his first win in four postseason starts. Burnett struck out nine and walked only two in seven innings. He retired his final eight batters and handed the lead to closer Mariano Rivera for a six-out save.

After powering through the first two rounds of the playoffs, hitting a combined .438 with five homers and 12 RBIs. A-Rod has gone 0 for 8 with six strikeouts. The Phillies $15 million dollar first baseman Ryan Howard is 2 for 9 with a pair of doubles and one RBI. Neither player has been a factor in either of the first two games.

The Series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday night, with New York’s Andy Pettitte set to face Cole Hamels in a match up of lefty’s. Pettitte is 2-2 in seven career starts with a 3.67 ERA against the Phillies, and is 8-4 on the road in 2009. He posted a win in his last appearance on Oct. 25 against the Angels. Hamels last appearance ended in a 10-4 win over the Dodgers on Oct. 21. He is 0-1 in two starts against the Yankees lifetime, with a 2.77 ERA, and is 7-5 in 2009 at Citizens Bank Park.

The odds makers have the Yankees at –1-½ favorites in Game 3 with a game total of 9.

Philadelphia is trying to become the first NL team to repeat as World Series champion since Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” in 1975-76. Can the Phillies return home taking two out of three to lead the series 3-2 sending it back to the Bronx? Will New York’s huge payroll buy them their first World Series title in nine years? My bet is on the Phillies in a decisive Game 7.

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