Victorino hurts hand on hit by pitch

By DAN GELSTON,

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Flyin' Hawaiian was almost grounded.

Shane Victorino squared to bunt when - whack! - he was drilled on his right index finger. Victorino put a scare into the Phillies after he was hit by an A.J. Burnett fastball in the first inning. He shook his head and stayed in the game, scoring on Chase Utley's three-run homer. He said he was fine and expected to play in Game 6.

Though X-rays were negative, the Phillies center fielder was clearly in discomfort the rest of the way in Philadelphia's 8-6 Game 5 win over the Yankees on Monday night. He gingerly removed his batting gloves after each at-bat and had trouble gripping the bat and throwing the ball because his finger was swollen.

He grimaced and shook his wrist after popping out in the second inning.

"When I first got hit, I said, 'Oh no, this doesn't feel right,'" Victorino said. "I went in and threw and it felt fine. I'm happy for that."

Victorino, a native of Hawaii, went 0 for 3 and was replaced in the eighth inning by Ben Francisco. Victorino might catch a break with Tuesday's off day before the Series resumes on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Victorino didn't know he was replaced until he saw Francisco in center. Victorino pleaded with manager Charlie Manuel to leave him in the game and move Francisco to left field to replace the slower Raul Ibanez. Manuel shook his head no.

"I wanted to play," Victorino said. "There was some miscommunication, but other than that, everything was fine."

Maybe Manuel should have listened to his All-Star after Ibanez barely failed to grab Mark Teixeira's double in the eighth.

Victorino said Burnett apologized. Burnett shattered Jayson Werth's wrist in a 2005 spring training game when Werth was playing with the Dodgers.

It's been a rough World Series for center fielders. Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera has a slightly strained left hamstring and was replaced on the roster.

New York's Brett Gardner made a fantastic catch to rob Werth in the fifth inning. He made a leaping, outstretched grab and slammed his back into the wall. He was down for a few minutes, but also stayed in the game.

GAME 6: Pedro Martinez will get another shot to win a World Series game at Yankee Stadium. Martinez, who lost Game 2, will start Game 6 on Wednesday as the Phillies try and force a Game 7.

"He should go anywhere six, seven innings in a game, maybe longer, depends on how many pitches he throws early," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Yankees likely will start Game 3 winner Andy Pettitte on three days rest.

Manager Joe Girardi said he would name a starter after the Yankees work out on Tuesday.

"Physically I've got to see how he is," Girardi said. "He threw on the side today and felt good."

PHOTO FINISH: Joba Chamberlain had one heck of a photo finish.

The Yankees reliever was thrilled to celebrate New York's Game 4 win on Sunday - he just didn't realize he was the one credited with the victory.

"It actually didn't hit me until my sister showed me the picture," Chamberlain said. "I didn't even think about it. She took a picture, and she goes, 'You won in the College World Series and now you won in the World Series.'"

Chamberlain squandered the lead in the eighth inning when he gave up a solo home run to Pedro Feliz that tied the score at 4. The 24-year-old Chamberlain, who pitched for Nebraska in the 2005 College World Series, struck out Carlos Ruiz to end the inning.

The Yankees bailed out Chamberlain with three runs in the ninth for a 7-4 win.

"It's kind of unreal," he said. "It's something you dream about as a kid to come in the World Series and help the team in any aspect, but then when you get a win, it's something that's pretty special to me and something I'll never forget."

An inconsistent starter all season, Chamberlain went 9-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 31 starts and a career-high 157 1-3 innings. Chamberlain was bounced back to the bullpen for the postseason.

Chamberlain had been getting extended rest between some starts since the All-Star break because the Yankees were concerned about his workload in his second full season in the majors.

"We knew there was an innings limitations going into the year and we were going to stick with that," manager Joe Girardi said.

Chamberlain understands why the Yankees have been so cautious with the way they've handled him to protect his arm. But he's frustrated he hasn't settled into a more permanent role. He hopes he lands in the starting rotation.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," he said. "It's the only thing I have done."

SIGN GUY: Shane Victorino joked he's not smart enough to steal signs.

And if he was, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder says he's doing a lousy job of having success with the inside knowledge.

Former Phillies manager Larry Bowa said in a radio interview on Monday that the team has a reputation for stealing signs - one possible reason the Yankees have held so many meetings on the mound.

"I guess he knows something that I don't know about, obviously," Victorino said before Game 5. "You know, everybody makes excuses. Everybody is going to find a reason."

Bowa, now the Dodgers third base coach, told Philadelphia radio station ESPN 950 there are rumors of the Phillies using a center field camera to swipe signs.

"There's rumors going around that when you play the Phillies, there's a camera somewhere or bullpen people are giving signs," Bowa said. "And catchers are constantly changing signs. That's the rumor. Now, is it proven? No."

Victorino became defensive when asked about the sign-stealing accusations. He acknowledged sign stealing was an art, but the Phillies didn't need to use that sneaky info to advance to the World Series two straight years.

"I'm trying to say, 'Hey, you're not giving us enough credit as a team,'" Victorino said. "You're trying to say the reason why we're here is because we stole signs."

It's not the first time those accusations have been lobbed at the Phillies. The New York Mets accused the Phillies of stealing signs through a center-field camera in 2007.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said sign-stealing concerns were only one reason for the frequent mound visits

"It could be signs, talking about the hitter, the situation, do you pitch around this guy to get to the next guy possibly, if we get behind this guy what are we going to do?" he said. "There's a lot of situations."

NUMBERS GAME: Joe Girardi's goal has always been on his back. The Yankees manager wears uniform No. 27 because the franchise has been chasing their 27th championship.

Girardi hadn't considered a uniform switch next season if the Yankees beat the Phillies.

But with New York holding a 3-2 edge in the Series, Girardi is focused on the present.

"I'm sure my kids would have recommendations what my uniform number should be, but I haven't thought about that and I don't like to think too far ahead," Girardi said.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW: Comedian Chris Rock brought celebrity star power to Game 5 of the World Series. Rock was spotted on the Hall of Fame level at Citizen Bank Park.

Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette sang the national anthem. Even with temperatures hovering around 50, Morissette did not have both hands in her pockets while she performed.

"Arliss" actor Robert Wuhl watched Yankees batting practice from behind the cage.

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo watched from Section 134 before moving into a suite with some of his teammates. Rondo had just agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Celtics, who play at the 76ers on Tuesday.

Updated November 3, 2009