1 more and the Yankees are home (Yanks 7, Phillies 4. Yankees lead World Series 3-1)

It's been said that the early games of a series are like the beginnings of a chess match. The first game or two is just the opening, where you feel your opponent out. You get a sense of his strategy. You study his approach. You find the weakness, and develop your plan of attack.

The first two games in the Bronx almost seemed that way. But the last two games, especially today's game, were a war. Players' nerves have calmed down. The game plan is ready. Now the real attack begins.

The Yankees struck first. Jeter and Damon, red hot now, both got on base, and before the inning was over both had scored and the Yankees had a 2-0 lead.

But these are the Phillies. And like I said, this is a war. The Phillies tied it against CC Sabathia, who was starting on 3 days of rest. Once again it was Utley doing the major damage. And we had ourselves a 2-2 ballgame early on. Evidently, things were just getting started.

The Yankees, with the tide turning against them but led by Jeter, responded. With a couple of runs the Yankees pulled ahead 4-2. The Phillies responded in the bottom of the 5th with an attack on Sabathia. But CC escaped (some analysis of Sabathia's extraordinary performance in the 5th inning).

But these are the Phillies, and this is an epic series. CC stayed in during the 7th inning. He got two outs and 2 strikes on Utley. But Utley struck again. 4-3. Momentum swing again. And as a fan you almost knew that the Phillies were going to tie the game. Somehow, we knew that 4 runs would not be enough to win tonight.

Joba entered in the 8th. He got Werth. He got Ibanez. But Pedro Feliz jacked a solo homer to left that tied the game and sent those Phillie orange fireworks booming, and that sea of white towels waving. Citizens Bank Park shook with bedlam from the masses. The game was tied.

Marte got the next out. And we went to the 9th, tied at 4-4.

Brandon Lidge, the Phillies' closer, perfect in the postseason, was deployed. Matsui pinch hit and was set down. Jeter had a long at bat that might have tired Lidge a bit, but he eventually struck out on a nasty, diving slider.

With two outs Damon stepped to the plate. He fell behind 1-2 but went to work. Fouling off pitches with defensive swings. Taking close pitches for balls. Fighting, battling, warring like he did in all those big games and from behind that massive beard as a Red Sock. Damon wore down Lidge and laced an opposite field single to get on base, the kind of hit that inspires a team.

But Damon wasn't done. Tex batted left handed and the Phillies overshifted against him, with Feliz playing at short, Rollings at second, and Utley in shallow right. The Phillies did not hold Damon, and Johnny made a break for second with a massive jump. Ruiz was caught by surprise and hit Feliz on two hops, well behind Damon's slide. But Ruiz had thrown to the right side of the bag, pulling Feliz towards first base. Feliz lunged to save the ball, but Johnny saw his chance. And with a "positively Demonic" burst of speed from his 35 year old legs, Damon accelerated towards third past the hapless Feliz...who had nobody to throw to. Damon went in to third standing up.

Manuel called for Tex to be plunked, to bring up A-Rod and a force at second base. And with a heroic swat Alex Rodriguez smashed a line drive down the left field line, a one-hopper to the wall that scored Damon and gave the Yankees the only cushion they would need for Mariano in the 9th. Posada doubled in Tex and A-Rod to make the score 7-4, and the Yankees were three outs away from a 3-1 Series lead.

Mariano did not disappoint. With two weak grounders an a tiny pop fly to second, Mo broke more Phillies bats and proved once again that he belongs in a different league. The Phillies went down 1-2-3. And the Yankees celebrated in the middle of the field, in front of the quietly exiting Philly fans, knowing that they would need just one more to bring the World Series Championship back to New York.

Johnny Damon. He's been here since 2006. But today he really did become a Yankee. What a tremendous performance in the 9th inning. The man who once was a part of those old awful Red Sox teams is now a Yankee for all time.