New York Yankees' Derek Jeter strikes out looking during the third inning of Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, in New York. Philadelphia Phillies' Carlos Ruiz is catching. Umpire is Jeff Nelson. It was Jeter's second strike out in the game. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (The Associated Press)
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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.

Without any offense from Alex Rodriguez, 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.

Three wins from a second consecutive championship, Philadelphia could wrap it up at home. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and crew can't wait to play before their fervent fans in the second-ever World Series game on Halloween.

"We're back in our own ballpark. It's going to be hostile. It's going to be loud," Shane Victorino said.

Nothing new, according to the Yankees.

"Because of the team we are, we get booed and yelled at everywhere we go," Johnny Damon said. "Even coming off the train."

Citizens Bank Park is approximately 108 miles from Yankee Stadium, with all those New Jersey Turnpike tolls in between. Both teams zipped down on the train in a little more than an hour -- the Phillies after their 3-1 loss Thursday night, the Yankees on Friday afternoon.

During batting practice, as one slugger after another sent balls ricocheting around Philadelphia's cozy ballpark, it was hard to fathom

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how Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett looked so dominant on the mound the previous two nights.

"I can't say enough about our advanced scouting and our reports. They're right on," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Sooner or later, though, some of these big bats are bound to break loose.

Mark Teixeira's only hit in seven at-bats is a solo homer. Phillies bopper Ryan Howard is hitting .222 with six strikeouts. A monster in the playoffs, Rodriguez is 0-for-8 in his first World Series, also with six strikeouts.

"I feel pretty good. I mean, it's only been eight at-bats, but I felt like I've had a lot of good swings," Rodriguez said. "I fouled a couple of pitches off that I should have put in play."

A-Rod was mostly an October bust before this year, but Jeter insisted he's not worried.

"No, the guy's been killing the ball for three weeks," Jeter said. "It's kind of hard to sit here and overanalyze things. If pitchers make their pitches, they're going to get you out."

Damon said the rest of the Yankees need to pick up the slack for Rodriguez. But with offense at a premium, they'll be missing a dangerous bat during the next three games.

Because World Series rules do not allow a designated hitter in the National League park, New York must decide whether to put Hideki Matsui in the outfield or on the bench.

"As productive as he's been for us this year, you don't want to lose his bat," manager Joe Girardi said.

Matsui hit a go-ahead homer off Pedro Martinez in Game 2 and it might seem tempting to start him in right field in place of slumping Nick Swisher. Slowed by knee surgeries, however, Matsui hasn't played the outfield since June 15, 2008, at Houston.

"I don't see any major issues," he said through a translator.

Schedule

Wednesday » Philadelphia 6, New York 1

Thursday » New York 3, Philadelphia 1,

Series tied 1-1

Today, 5:57 p.m. » N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia

Sunday, 6:20 p.m. » N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia

Monday, 5:57 p.m. » N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia

Wednesday, 5:57 p.m. » Philadelphia at N.Y. Yankees *

Thursday, 5:57 p.m. » Philadelphia at N.Y. Yankees *

*If necessary

All games on Ch. 13