via Clutch A-Rod carries New York Yankees to brink of 27th World Series title.

Update | 9:21 p.m. Normally, i don’t care for mascots, especially the aggressive tough-guy types. But i have a soft spot for the Phillie Phanatic, that humorous, affable, fuzzy green master of mirth and mayhem. If the San Diego Chicken was the Babe Ruth of mascots, then the Phanatic is the Michael Jordan. You could spend the entire game watching him shimmy that midsection and taunt the opposition. He’s definitely a grinder, too. He reacts to almost every play on the field. If you watch him, you’ll see he never stops working. In fact, that’s what just happened here, so not much to report on the bottom of the third, except that Sabathia set the Phillies down in order again. – D.W.

Update | 9:10 p.m. Sabathia just had a very simple inning, carving up the bottom third of the Phillies’ order in about 13 seconds. In the top of the second, Blanton did even better, getting the top third of the Yankee lineup in order, including a strikeout of Mark Teixeira looking at a changeup on the outer corner. Pedro Feliz made a brilliant diving play to knock down Derek Jeter’s wicked grounder to third leading off the inning. Feliz jumped up and with his legs planted threw a perfect strike to Howard at first with that rocket arm of his. – D.W.

Update | 9:08 p.m. Keith Olbermann, the former pregame host for Fox’s baseball telecasts, was watching the opening tease, that mash-up of World Series highlights and “Avatar” clips and wrote on his blog a few minutes ago that it “was a great argument for transferring the World Series broadcast rights to PBS. Or maybe C-SPAN.” For more of the current MSNBC host’s views on baseball, click here. – R.S.

Update | 8:57 p.m. Talk about being eager to see the game. I’d just gone through the media/VIP entrance and shown my badge when a man sprinted, seemingly from out of nowhere, and blew past security. He dashed out into the lobby, headed for who knows where. A couple of policemen tackled him — the Giants could have used his skills at Lincoln Financial Field a few hours earlier — subdued him and put him in handcuffs. My usual policy when I see trouble is to go the other way, but I walked over to get a look into the face of a guy who thought he could bum-rush his way into the World Series. – W.R.

Update | 8:56 p.m. The Phillies drove up Sabathia’s pitch count in Game 1, making him throw 24 pitches in the first inning on his way to 113 over all. Sabathia threw 24 again in the first inning tonight, but on less rest I wonder whether he’ll stay in long enough to reach 113 again. – B.S.

Update | 8:54 p.m. Ryan Howard is still having his problems. He just struck out for the 10th time this series. Two more and he ties Willie Wilson’s record from the 1980 World Series. Sabathia also struck out Raul Ibanez to get out of the inning with Utley stranded at second. Howard has 10 strikeouts in 14 at-bats. If there were a strikeout average, he would be swinging .714. – D.W.

Update | 8:50 p.m. Last night, after Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch for the second time in the series, we wondered if there might be some retaliation against a Phillies hitter. Now that A-Rod has been hit again, this time by Joe Blanton in the first inning in a situation where first base was open, we really have to wonder. And A-Rod was understandably upset about it. But the home plate umpire Mike Everitt spoke to all parties, so it’s now unlikely Sabathia can do much more than brush anyone back. But A-Rod needs some protection. He can’t get hit three times in four games. – D.W.

Update | 8:49 p.m. Remember the guy visible in nearly every shot of home plate from the centerfield camera Saturday night? He’s back. This time, instead of a black jacket, he’s changed to something green and he appears to be wearing a media credential– which means he’s been authorized by Major League Baseball to stand in the background of that frequently used shot. – R.S.

Update | 8:35 p.m. The Phillies have come right back with a run on Sabathia as Utley doubled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right center to score Victorino, who had reached on a one-out double. That was Utley’s first hit since Game 1 when he had two home runs. It’s now 2-1 Yankees. – D.W.

via Live Analysis World Series Game 4: Yankees 2, Phillies 1, Fourth Inning – Bats Blog – NYTimes.com.

Barkley completed 21 of 38 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Fabforum Barkley connected with receiver Ronald Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the score, 10-10, early in the second quarter. His 4-yard touchdown pass to Damian Williams late in the second quarter tied the score, 17-17.

The freshman was victimized by a key drop by tight end Blake Ayles. But Barkley also underthrew a pass and overthrew several that might have resulted in long gains and possibly touchdowns.

Barkley’s pass on the final play of the game was intercepted by Oregon safety T.J. Ward.

“There is a lot I can learn,” Barkley said. “I realize there is nothing we can do about this. Come Monday, on the practice field, it is a whole new year.”

– Gary Klein

via USC football: Loss at Oregon a learning experience for Matt Barkley | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times.

Sabathia also gets the rare chance to bat tonight and is .261 with three career homers in 92 at-bats.

The Yankees have jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the game. Can they take a 3-1 series lead tonight? Will the Phillies tie it up? Steve Borelli, an editor on USA TODAY’s baseball desk, is blogging the game LIVE. Click on the link below to join him.

You can also follow our Gamecast here

via LIVE blog: Yankees at Phillies World Series Game 4 – Game on – USATODAY.com.

A child immigrant from war-torn Eritrea, and one of 11 siblings in a village with no electricity, Keflezighi traveled an arduous journey to the finish line here and carried decades of American hopes with him.