The 2009 World Series continued in New York on Thursday at New Yankee Stadium as the Philadelphia Phillies were set to do battle with the home town Yankees, leading the series one game to none after a masterful pitching performance from game one starter Cliff Lee.

The Yankees were very familiar with the Phillies game two starter as Pedro Martinez returned to New York to pitch amongst the consistent heckling he received in the past as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

Martinez would be matched on the day by the flame throwing right arm of AJ Burnett.

Today I continue my “stars” column, which I have been contributing to throughout the playoffs.

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees Game 2 (Phillies Lead 1-0)

AJ Burnett

Being a Toronto native and fan of our hometown Blue Jays I am not a personal fan of AJ Burnett and I did not think I would ever be listing the pitcher as a star throughout any point of the playoffs, as he’s never lived up to his hype in my opinion.

However, Thursday night Burnett showed the world that the Cy Young “stuff” he pitches is there and when he is on his game he is next to unhittable, even with an offense like the Phillies to contend with.

Burnett worked seven strong innings for the Yankees, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking two and striking out nine.

The amazing performance by Burnett allowed for a true two inning save from Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera for a 3-1 Yankee victory.

A smiling Pedro Martinez would lose this game although he did pitch a decent game himself. Martinez pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out eight.

The Phillies seemed like they were in complete control of the Yankees after they score the initial run of the game in the second inning after Matt Stairs squeaked an RBI single past the glove of Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

But after that second inning run Burnett completely locked in and did not allow a single run, while Martinez would fall to the Yankee offense who scored runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Two runs came off solo home run shots from Hideki Matsui and Mark Teixeira while the third came off the bat of Jorge Posada who would pinch hit for AJ Burnett’s personal catcher Jose Molina.

Once Mariano Rivera entered the game in the eighth inning the sense of victory increased as the cut fastball master shut down the Phillies to tie the series at one game apiece.

The victory was a much-needed one for the Yankees as they now travel to the raucous Citizens Bank Park to deal with the Phillies on their home turf Saturday night.

The Phillies will send last season’s World Series MVP Cole Hamels to the mound to square off against one of the postseason’s all time best pitchers Andy Pettitte in a battle of lefty handers.

The game is set to begin at 7:57pm EST.