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The New York Yankees scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to forge a commanding 3-1 World Series lead with a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees broke open a 4-4 tie with three runs off Phillies reliever Brad Lidge and moved within one victory of claiming their 27th Fall Classic crown with Game Five in the best-of-seven series being played in Philadelphia on Monday.

After home runs by Phillies Chase Utley in the seventh and Pedro Feliz in the eighth tied the game, Lidge gave up an RBI-double to Alex Rodriguez and a two-run single to Jorge Posada to hand the Yankees their winning margin.

The last-inning outburst was ignited by Johnny Damon, who stroked a two-out single to left.

With the infield in an over-shift to protect against batter Mark Teixeira pulling the ball through the right side, the speedy left-fielder stole second base.

When third baseman Feliz cut in front of the bag to handle the catcher's throw, Damon alertly popped up from his slide and raced to third base, which was not covered due to the shift.

The daring play seemed to unnerve Lidge, who hit Teixeira with a pitch and then yielded a line-drive double to left by Rodriguez that scored Damon. Posada followed with a single to left to bring home Teixeira and Rodriguez.

Damon was credited with two stolen bases on the play.

"That's the first time we've had it happen to us this year," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "It's the catcher or pitcher that's got to be heads up."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi praised Damon for the aggressive move. "I thought it was a great instinctual play by Johnny Damon," he said.

Closer Mariano Rivera came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired Philadelphia in order to put New York on the brink of their first title since 2000.

Game Two winner AJ Burnett will take the mound for New York on Monday on short rest against Philadelphia's Game One winner Cliff Lee, who can send the series back to New York for a Game Six with a victory.

Reuters