Yankees close in on title No 27

THE New York Yankees are just one win away from clinching their 27th World Series title after a dramatic victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

With scores level at 4-4 going into the ninth innings the Yankees scored three runs, before expert closer Mariano Rivera sewed up the contest with an eight-pitch innings.

It was heartbreaking for the Phillies who had fought back to level through solo homers from Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz before reliever Brad Lidge had the Yankees on the brink in the ninth with two outs. But Johnny Damon got a base hit, his third of the night, before stealing second and third in the same play as the Phillies got jittery.

Lidge then hit Mark Teixeira before giving up the go-ahead run when Alex Rodriguez fired one bounce into the left-field wall for Damon to get home.

The game was up for the defending champions soon after when Jorge Posada drove into centre field to bring Teixeira and Rodriguez over home plate.