Philadelphia.Phillies.MLB.com

Utley 'just Superman' for Phillies

• fan comments
• print this page
• e-mail this page
• post on facebook

Related Links

• Game 6, Wed., 7:57 ET: FOX | Postseason.TV
• Shop for NL champs gear
• Complete World Series coverage

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

11/03/09 7:41 PM EST

NEW YORK -- The Yankees' plan has not worked against Chase Utley.

Or maybe the plan simply has not mattered.

Utley is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with one double, five home runs, eight RBIs, three walks and six runs scored through Game 5 of the World Series. He has tied Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a single World Series. His 1.222 slugging percentage is the seventh-best in World Series history. Only Lou Gehrig in 1928 (1.727), Babe Ruth in 1928 (1.375), Barry Bonds in 2002 (1.294), Hank Gowdy in 1914 (1.273), Billy Hatcher in 1990 (1.250) and Jackson in 1977 (1.250) have been better.

"Obviously, it's great company," Utley said of tying Jackson's record. "At some point, not right now, maybe I'll look back on it and see what kind of special moment it is. But right now our goal is to win two more games."

The Phillies play the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. They trail the best-of-seven series, 3-2, which means if the Phillies want to become the first National League team since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds to win back-to-back World Series, they must win two consecutive games at Yankee Stadium.

Utley could help if he continues to swing a hot bat.

"He's adjusting to what we're trying to do," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said. "We're trying to adjust to him. We're trying to find a way of putting the ball where it's supposed to be. We have left a lot of pitches in the middle of the plate. He has put damage on them. He feels good at the plate. We need to really make him feel probably a little bit more uncomfortable, and make the pitches where they're supposed to be."

Utley's performance is not a surprise to his teammates.

It is not a surprise to Phillies fans.

They have seen this for years.

He twice homered in five consecutive games in 2008 to become one of just four players in baseball history to have two five-homer streaks; Harmon Killebrew (1970), Frank Thomas (1994) and Bonds (2001) were the others. He can get hot and stay hot for weeks.

"He's just Superman, you know?" Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "He's flying high right now, so hopefully he keeps on."

"It's unbelievable what he's doing, but it's not a surprise," right-hander Ryan Madson said. "The way he works and the way he approaches the game is just unbelievable. It's fun to watch. I'm glad to be a part of it."

Utley's work ethic is legendary. He one of the first players -- some say the first -- to arrive at the ballpark every day. He studies hours of video, which he hopes gives him an edge against opposing pitchers.

"Sometimes I don't even like to talk about him because he doesn't want me to," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Actually he doesn't like for you to say a whole lot of things about him. But he's one of the most prepared, one of the most dedicated -- he has the most desire and passion to play the game of any player that I've ever been around.

"I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. All those things I just said, I used to say those things about Kirby Puckett. The only thing Kirby might have on Chase is he's more flamboyant because he smiles a lot, and Chase is a little bit different. He's quiet and he goes about his business in a real good way.

"But Chase Utley is one of the most -- he's a pleasure to be around and he's a pleasure to manage. I mean that, and I could not say enough about him because that's what I think about him. I don't want to embarrass him or nothing like that, but sometimes I tell our players, 'Just play with Chase,' because if you play with Chase, you've got a chance to be a pretty good player."

The Phillies will need Utley to keep hitting in Game 6 against Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte. If they win Game 6, they would face left-hander CC Sabathia in Game 7 on Thursday.

Utley has hit three homers this series against Sabathia.

"He's had a great series," Sabathia said. "He's a great hitter. It's not my concern, getting Chase Utley out. I want to win a World Series and that's about all I want to do."

But Utley can make that much more difficult for the Yankees. He has so far.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.