MLB: Yankees Manager Glad Phillies' Lee Can't Pitch "Every Day"

NEW YORK- Joe Girardi could take away one comforting thought after watching Cliff Lee shut down the New York Yankees.

"He can't pitch every day," the Yankees manager said.

Lee tickled his teammates with a ho-hum catch, made a behind-the-back snag seem routine and bamboozled the New York hitters the whole way, pitching the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-1 win Wednesday night in the World Series opener.

"It's been a long time since I've been nervous playing this game," Lee said. "I try not to leave anything to chance."

Lee could have been clowning around with his kids, it looked so easy. He outdueled CC Sabathia and Chase Utley homered twice as the defending champion Phillies kept rolling through October.

The Phils shut down Alex Rodriguez & Co. in the first Series game at the new billion-dollar ballpark. Trying to become the first NL team to repeat since Cincinnati in 1975-76, the Phils' current 17-4 postseason run is the best in league history.

Big Red Machine, meet the New Red Machine.

"We have confidence. We know we have a good team," Utley said.

Game 2 is Thursday night, with wily Pedro Martinez pitching for the Phillies against jumpy A.J. Burnett.