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In the first inning of the first game of his first World Series, it was clear that Cliff Lee would have little trouble adjusting to the pressure. He struck out Derek Jeter, induced an easy bunt ground out, and struck out Mark Teixeira for the first of his four 1-2-3 innings. It was also the first of eight shutout innings, marred only by an unearned run on a throwing error in the ninth. That was enough for the Phillies to take Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, 6-1.

The media billed Game 1 as a pitchers' duel, and Lee held up his end. Yankees ace CC Sabathia wasn't quite as good, but he kept the game close for seven innings. While he was erratic at times, especially in a 24 pitch first inning, just two swings of the bat actually hurt him. They both came from Chase Utley, who hit a pair of solo home runs to right field. Power pitchers give up solo home runs from time to time, but unfortunately the Yankees' offense couldn't compensate.

"He was great tonight," manager Joe Girardi said of the Lee. "He kept us off balance. He got us to chase some pitches when we were down in the count." Lee struck out 10 in his complete game performance, throwing 80 of his 122 pitches for strikes. He allowed six hits, but only two of them came in the same inning, the ninth.

Lee knew what he was up against in the potent Yankees lineup, but he had a plan. "You've got to be unpredictable," he explained. "You have to show them things they haven't seen before." Lee threw just 62 fastballs out of his 122 pitches. He used his knuckle curve and changeup to fool the Yankees hitters.

For his part, Sabathia retired 16 of the 24 hitters he faced. He ran into trouble in the first, loading the bases after recording the first two outs, but he escaped with no damage. From there on he allowed just three hits, two of which were the Utley home runs. His lone walk after the first was erased with a double play. It was a tough start for Sabathia, 113 pitches through seven innings, but he pitched well enough to win.

"I thought CC grinded it out very well tonight," said Girardi. "He made two mistakes to Utley, but that was it." Sabathia owned up to the homers, saying that Utley put a good swing on the first one, but that the second one was all his fault.

The Yankees bullpen, so reliable during the season, allowed the game to get out of hand in its two innings of work. Phil Hughes faced just two batters -- Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino -- and walked both. With two lefties due up, Girardi went to Damaso Marte, who got the job done. He struck out Chase Utley on a 2-2 curve ball and then got Ryan Howard to pop out to right. With lefty killer Jayson Werth due up next, Girardi went back to his bullpen and called upon David Robertson.

In Robertson Girardi had not only a better option against the righty Werth, but against lefty Raul Ibanez. During the 2009 season Robertson had better numbers against lefties than righties, using his curveball to keep lefties off balance. He got to face both, but he let them reach base, walking Werth before allowing a two-RBI single to Ibanez. That extended Philadelphia's lead to 4-0, which, with Cliff Lee on the mound, was more than enough.

The poor performance continued what has been a poor postseason for Hughes. Both of the runners he walked came around to score, giving him five earned runs on the postseason in just 4 2/3 innings. It also marked his fourth walk of the postseason. After the game Joe Girardi professed his continued continued confidence in Hughes, but it's clear that something has changed for him between the regular season and postseason.

Brian Bruney, left off the roster for the ALDS and ALCS, started the ninth inning, but allowed three straight hits, including a Carlos Ruiz double. That extended the Phillies' lead to 5-0. For the second straight inning Rollins and Victorino had reached base, and for the second straight inning Girardi went to a lefty to face Utley and Howard. This time it was Phil Coke, and while he got the job done against Utley, he allowed a double to Ryan Howard. The Yankees were saved when Nick Swisher made a relay throw to Robinson Cano, who threw a strike to Jorge Posada, easily getting Victorino to end the inning.

"We had a bad day today," David Robertson said of his bullpen crew.

The Yankees had a few chances, but each time couldn't come up with a big hit against Lee. Hideki Matsui led off the fifth with a single up the middle, but Robinson Cano hit one softly right to Jimmy Rollins. He caught the ball, though he appeared to let the ball drop, and then fired to first. The second base umpire signaled that he caught it and that Cano was out. Ryan Howard than tagged Hideki Matsui, who was lounging off first base, for the double play.

The umpires conferred to make sure they got the call right. After a number of controversial calls in the first two playoff rounds, it was important to make sure that they didn't miss anything. After a short conference they got the call right, which was a double play. It spoiled the first inning in which the Yankees put the leadoff hitter on base.

Derek Jeter singled with one out in the sixth, but again the Yankees could not bring him around. Johnny Damon popped one directly to Lee for the second out, and Teixeira grounded out to second to end the threat. It appeared he had grounded a pitch up the middle, but Utley had him played perfectly. He took only a few steps to his left before fielding the ball and stepping on second for the third out.

To lead off the eighth, Robinson Cano bounced one up the middle. It appeared that Utley might get to it, but before that could happen Lee fielded the ball behind his back. "I don't know how I caught that ball," he said.

After two singles to lead off the ninth, Lee beared down to get the final three outs. A run scored when Jimmy Rollins threw a ball into the Yankees dugout, but it was a mere blip for Lee and the Phillies. They owned the game, and even the Yankees, who led the league in come from behind victories, could not recover.

As the media spoke to the team after the game, they didn't seem down. "We're thinking about tomorrow already," said Jorge Posada.