The 2009 World Series between the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees began last night in New York at New Yankee Stadium.

The magical night for baseball fans was not so magical if you were donning the Yankee pinstripes, as the Philadelphia Phillies held true to Jimmy Rollins prediction on the Jay Leno Show last Monday by beating the Yankees 6-1. The prediction being that the Phillies would defeat the Yankees in 5, maybe 6 games if the Phillies were nice.

Today I continue my “Stars” column which I have been contributing to throughout the 2009 Major League Baseball postseason.

Please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion only.

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees Game 1

Cliff Lee

I would like to start off this article with one simple, straight to the point word. Wow!

In his first World Series appearance against the top offense of the postseason combined with a matchup against an old friend who was the hottest pitcher in the postseason(CC Sabthia), Cliff Lee really brought his “A Game”.

Lee pitched a complete game, allowing only one run, none earned, on six hits while striking out ten Yankee hitters. Of those ten strikeouts five were of the Yankees biggest hitters Mark Teixeira (struck out twice) and Alex Rodriguez (struck out three times).

Lee was dominant on all portions of the plate mixing a deadly pitching combination of two and four seam fastballs along with a cutter and a knee buckling change up.

Lee, is not known as an overpowering pitcher but more so for hiding the ball well upon releasing it from his left side.

The mixture of his hidden delivery along with the rain showering throughout the game was a perfect setting for a pitcher of his caliber.

Chase Utley smashed two homers in Game 1 for the Phils.

Yes, the argument can be made that Chase Utley who hit two home runs in the game could be the named as the star of the game because the two home runs set the momentum in the direction of the Phillies, but I can not personally get over how fantastic of a pitching performance Lee put together.

The pitching performance by Lee was one of the best I have seen in the World Series and if the Phillies can continue to play like they did on Wednesday night Rollins prediction may come to fruition.

The World Series continues tonight in New York as the Yankees looks to even the series at a game a piece.

Flame thrower AJ Burnett will start for the Yankees against New York’s favorite heckle monkey Pedro “Who’s Your Daddy” Martinez.

The game is set for a 7:57pm EST start time.

And for you fans of funny stories related to baseball check out this link:

What some people will do for World Series tickets, yeesh!