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[Steve]

NEW YORK (AP)—The ho-hum catch that tickled his teammates, the behind-the-back snag that looked so easy.

Cliff Lee(notes) could have been clowning around with his kids. Hard to believe it was Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, of all places.

Lee outdueled CC Sabathia(notes), Chase Utley(notes) homered twice and the Philadelphia Phillies kept rolling through October, beating New York 6-1 on a misty Wednesday night in the opener.

“To be honest I really never have been nervous in the big leagues. This is what I wanted to do my whole life,” Lee said.

The defending champion Phillies shut down Alex Rodriguez(notes) & 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’ 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(notes) pitching for the Phillies against jumpy A.J. Burnett(notes).

[LEO]

GO PHILLIES