Andy Pettitte, eligible for free agency, needs time to decide whether to retire or return for a 16th season. NEW YORK—The sign men were out bright and early at the Yankees minor-league complex, sticking vinyl strips with a fresh, white “27” over the “26” that had been up on the board for nine, long years to mark the team’s total of World Series titles.

NEW YORK - Ryan Howard kept striking out. Cole Hamels had a meltdown on the mound. Brad Lidge imploded in a crucial spot. With their slugger, former ace and closer struggling on the big stage, the Philadelphia Phillies had no chance to repeat. Their bid to become the first NL team in 33 years to win consecutive World Series titles fell two wins short against the New York Yankees, losing 7-3 in Game 6 last night.

PHILADELPHIA - Cliff Lee’s perfect postseason might not be over yet. Lee could earn a Game 7 start for the Philadelphia Phillies if they force the World Series to a decisive game against the New York Yankees. “As far as my availability, I’m available,“ Lee said. The Phillies’ left-handed ace has been flawless in the postseason with a 4-0 record and a 1.56 ERA in five starts. Manager Charlie Manuel bypassed Lee for a Game 4 start on three days’ rest because he wanted to keep him on his regular schedule.

PHILADELPHIA—Alex Rodriguez clanked a home run off a television camera in the right-field corner in the first instant replay in World Series history. The hit was changed to a double, and it changed the course of the game. “I think it woke our offense up a little bit,“ Rodriguez said after the Yankees rallied for a rain-delayed 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night that gave them a 2-1 Series lead.

The first instant replay call in World Series history did more than turn a double into a home run. It changed the whole game for Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees. Rodriguez’s disputed shot started a big comeback and those dangerous Yankees bats finally broke loose, backing Andy Pettitte in a rain-delayed 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night that gave New York a 2-1 Series lead.

PHILADELPHIA—Alex Rodriguez wound up with a home run after the first video replay review in World Series history, one of three homers by New York, and the Yankees rallied from an early three-run deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 in Game 3 last night. Down 3-0 and held hitless by lefty Cole Hamels through 31/3 innings, the Yankees suddenly broke loose behind Rodriguez. Nick Swisher homered later, and pitcher Andy Petttitte helped out with an RBI single, drawing pro-New York chants at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILADELPHIA—Derek Jeter almost seems to delight in the way this World Series is playing out. Forget all those power hitters. Pitching is priceless. “I told you,“ he said with a smile. Jeter and the New York Yankees totaled four runs in the first two games and still eked out a split at home. Now, the Series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 tonight, with Cole Hamels set to start for the Phillies against fellow lefty Andy Pettitte.

NEW YORK—Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui shook the New York Yankees from their lumber slumber and sent the World Series to Philadelphia all tied up. Teixeira and Matsui hit solo homers off familiar foe Pedro Martinez, backing a sharp performance by A.J. Burnett and giving the Yankees a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 last night.

NEW YORK—The first time they met was seven years ago. Cliff Lee was a September call-up with a cocksure attitude, and his new teammate was immediately impressed. “He was the Cliff that he is now. He went out and pounded both sides of the plate, attacking, real aggressive in the strike zone,“ CC Sabathia said yesterday. “He goes right after you.“

NEW YORK—They boast all-stars all over the diamond, high-priced players decorated with coveted awards. They come loaded with October experience and shiny rings, expecting to win another World Series. Impressive team . . . these Philadelphia Phillies. Hardly a bunch of slouches on the other side, either. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees are a model of postseason success, eager to include Alex Rodriguez in a championship celebration.

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Virginia Tech alumnus Joe Saunders and the Los Angeles Angels know they’re heading straight into more than one kind of storm, and they can’t wait to get wet. Heavy showers in tonight’s New York forecast are threatening to wash out Game 6 of the AL championship series, yet that’s a minor drizzle compared to the high-pressure system the Angels created for both themselves and the Yankees by extending the ALCS to the weekend.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - When Derek Jeter recalls the last time the New York Yankees got this close to the World Series, he gets chills down his spine that have nothing to do with the cold he’s fighting. “If you have the opportunity to get something over with, you’d like to do it,“ the New York captain said. “It’s not always going to happen.“

Alex Rodriguez has done something remarkable in every game of his charmed October. CC Sabathia is settling for every time he takes the mound. Together, they have New York a win away from a return to the World Series.

ANAHEIM, Calif.—A midseason demotion to the minor leagues proved a humbling trip for Howie Kendrick, who had nothing but time to assess what went wrong during a slow start to the first half. He returned to the Los Angeles Angels in early July, and has been a thorn to opponents ever since—especially the New York Yankees. Kendrick had three hits, including a home run, in a 5-4 victory over the Yankees in 11 innings Monday that left Los Angeles trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven AL championship series.

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Torii Hunter grabbed his hat, tied his spikes and headed out of Los Angeles’ home clubhouse into the abundant sunshine and cool breezes of Angel Stadium. “Now I can work on my tan again,“ the Angels’ unofficial captain said with a grin. His Angels are undeniably in trouble after two nights of horrible weather and messier baseball in New York, where the Yankees took a 2-0 lead over their error-prone opponents in the AL championship series.