Major League Baseball

Phillies smiling all the way home despite loss

Published Oct. 31, 2009 3:04 a.m. ET

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Pedro Martinez gave up the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, and now, after the Yankees began the seventh with back-to-back hits, it was time to surrender the ball, too.


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Once Charlie Manuel emerged from the dugout, Martinez had to know the boos were coming. And as the jeers echoed through the New Stadium, the Old Ace did something that reminded us why we can't take our eyes off him.

He smiled.

Martinez later offered an explanation for his peculiar countenance, and we'll get to that in a moment. For now, let's consider why the Phillies had reason to be similarly smug on their early-morning train to Philadelphia.

Yes, they suffered a 3-1 loss to A.J. Burnett and the Yankees in Game 2. But they achieved the road split sought by soothsaying shortstop Jimmy Rollins. They have home-field advantage. And they (temporarily, at least) found the answer to Alex Rodriguez that eluded the Twins and Angels during the American League playoffs.

A-Rod is 0-for-8 with six strikeouts through two games in his first World Series. A number of his teammates haven't fared much better, as evidenced by the Yankees' team batting average of .222. Take away Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui, and that number drops to .143.

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