Phillies take World Series opener

Cliff Lee (right) is congratulated by Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz

Pitcher Cliff Lee starred as defending champions Philadelphia crushed the New York Yankees 6-1 in the opening game of the World Series on Wednesday.

Phillies starter Lee tamed the Yankees' powerful batting line-up, limiting the hosts to just six hits.

Chase Utley also hit two home runs to help seal a dominant win in the Bronx.

Game two of the best-of-seven series is in New York on Thursday, with the Phillies starting Pedro Martinez against AJ Burnett for the Yankees.

But Lee was certainly the star of the show on the opening night, baffling the Yankees with an assortment of fastballs and change-ups that induced a string of weak swings and easy outs.

Lee, who came to the Phillies in a mid-season trade with the Cleveland Indians, also played superb defence, making a behind-the-back stab of Robinson Cano's grounder up the middle.

An unearned run in the ninth was the only blemish on Lee's pitching line as he humbled the American League champions on a damp, drizzly night and erased their home field advantage in the series.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said: "I like the way he pitches. I like everything about how he goes about it.

Lee was great tonight. He kept us off balance Yankees manager Joe Girardi

"To me he sets the tone by his rhythm, getting the ball back. He knows what he's going to do and he knows what he's going to throw."

It was a desperately disappointing night for the Yankees, who were playing in the end-of-season finale for the first time in six years.

But Yankees manager Joe Girardi also heaped praise on the Phillies pitcher after the game, saying: "Lee was great tonight. He kept us off balance."

Second baseman Utley gave Lee all the run support he needed, hitting two homers off CC Sabathia including one that just cleared the right-field fence in the third innings.

Utley, who also walked in the game, has now reached base safely in each of his last 26 post-season games to surpass Baltimore's Boog Powell for the consecutive streak record.

Raul Ibanez singled two runs home in the eighth while a single by Shane Victorino followed by a run-scoring double by Ryan Howard accounted for the last two runs.

The Phillies have won the opening game of their last six post-season series, including all three last year, when they won their first title in 28 years.

They are trying to become the first side to win back-to-back titles since the Yankees in 1999.