Burnett gets start in possible Series clincher

New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (foreground) celebrates getting the last out of the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the 2009 Major League Baseball World Series in New York, October 29, 2009. Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez is at rear.

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A.J. Burnett said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to start Monday's World Series Game Five with a chance to clinch the New York Yankees' 27th Fall Classic crown and first since 2000.

"I'd lie if I said I wasn't going to go home and think about it all night," the pitcher told reporters after Sunday's 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies gave the Bronx Bombers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"You dream about it. This is what you talk about growing up. I'm going to do my best to take full advantage of that."

Burnett, who will oppose the Phillies' Game One winner Cliff Lee at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, will be the second successive Yankee pitcher going on three days' rest instead of the usual four following CC Sabathia.

Sabathia helped put New York on the brink of a championship by going 6 2/3 innings, yielding three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts after a shaky start.

Burnett said he admired the way Sabathia dealt with the pressure.

"You can't help but be somewhat inspired when he throws," Burnett said. "He goes deep in the game every time, and just the big presence he has on the mound. And he's a workhorse.

"When you are the number two guy behind a guy like that, you have to step your game up a little bit, and I think it pushes me to be better."

(Editing by Ian Ransom)