Tony DeMarco

NEW YORK - It all was going suspiciously too easy for the Philadelphia Phillies:

The potential momentum-building Game 1 victory in hostile territory.

The Koufax-esque dominance of Cliff Lee, backed by Chase Utley doing something last accomplished in World Series play by Babe Ruth.

And then the early 1-0 lead in Game 2 behind Pedro Martinez — right in the face of ‘who's your daddy?’ chants reverberating through Yankee Stadium.

No, this wasn't the way we thought things would unfold in this series that is supposed to put ‘the World’ back in the World Series.

The one matching two teams acknowledged as the best in the game, complete with powerful offenses, power pitching, and a handful of future Hall of Famers.

The one that could go seven games for the first time since 2002. All wrapped up in a regional rivalry separated only by about 100 miles of Interstate 95.

And now, we have it.

Mark Teixeira brought a miniscule .183 postseason batting average into Game 2, but tied the score at 1-1 by hitting a high changeup from Martinez a long way in the bottom of the fourth.

The Yankees finally got their first lead of the series two innings later, when Hideki Matsui lifted a low breaking ball 320 feet and into the right-field seats.

They pushed across another on Jorge Posada's seventh-inning, pinch-hit RBI single, and Mariano Rivera held on for a six-out save — 3-1 Yankees, series back to even, and destined to go deeper into November than any other.

Throw in two more questionable calls — both at first base, where Brian Gorman was stationed, and neither overruled by the rest of a veteran crew that didn't get the benefit of seeing television replays that would have reversed the calls — and we're right on schedule.

'Business as usual' is how Yankees manager Joe Girardi described it all afterward.

"Our club has been resilient all year,'' he said. "The one thing that we've been able to do is bounce back.''

Slideshow   Celebs in the stands A look at some of the celebrities attending the 2009 MLB playoffs. more photos

And from Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: "I guess we have to be (content with a split). I always want to be up 2-0, but it is what it is. We're going home.''

Some other emerging trends:

Some high-quality starting pitching is controlling potent offenses that led their respective leagues in home runs. The Phillies have scored three earned runs in 14 innings against Yankees starters CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Yankees hitters scored the same number against Martinez after getting one unearned run in Lee's complete game.

Burnett can blow hot and cold, but on this night, he had control of his electric stuff, and was able to locate his fastball early in the count, which set up a devastating breaking ball. He threw 21 of 26 first-pitch strikes, struck out nine, and kept his pitch count down at 108. Clearly, this was the best of his four postseason starts — and it came when the Yankees needed it most.

"I knew it was a big game — no lie,'' Burnett said. "It was the biggest game I've ever pitched. But at the same time, you can't let that affect you.''

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Mets can’t even plan fan-friendly park properly Yankees will nix 'Joba Rules' this season Lincecum, Giants set arb. hearing for Friday HBT: Mets lowering outfield fence from 16 feet to 8 Damon holding out for two-year deal HBT: Brandon Webb throws, thinks he’ll be ready for season HBT: O’s might like Washburn — if price really drops HBT: Nats don't have deal yet with ex-Yankee Wang FanHouse: Harden, Liriano headline AL x-factors Blyleven: White Sox, Tigers to give Twins challenge Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: