World Series

PHILADELPHIA -- It was easy for the Yankees to find the silver lining in Monday night's 8-6 loss to the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series.

Sure, they would have loved to clinch their 27th World Series championship on the hostile ground of Citizens Bank Park. But what better way to cap the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium than a series-clinching victory in front of approximately 50,000 of the loudest and proudest Bronx faithful?

"We can't win them all," outfielder Nick SwisherNick Swisher said. "But we're going back to New York, and that brings a smile to everyone's face."

Thanks to the stellar pitching of Andy PettitteAndy Pettitte and CC Sabathia -- coupled with some big hits from Alex RodriguezAlex Rodriguez and Johnny DamonJohnny Damon -- the Yankees head into Wednesday's Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead and the same swagger that helped them cruise through the first two rounds of the postseason.

"We have a good feeling," Yankees captain Derek JeterDerek Jeter said of the team's mind-set following wins in two of the three games here. "We came here in a tough place to play and won a couple of games. Now, we get an opportunity to go back home and play Game 6. We have confidence playing [at home], but you've still got to play a good game."

And if their previous postseason games are any indication, that shouldn't be a problem. The Yankees are 6-1 in the first seven playoff games at the new Yankee Stadium, losing only Game 1 of the World Series in a dominating complete-game effort by Monday's winner, Cliff LeeCliff Lee.

Best home winning percentage in 2009, including postseason play RankTeamRecordPct. 1. Yankees 63-25 .716 2. Red Sox 56-26 .683 3. Rays 52-29 .642 Giants 52-29 .642 5. Tigers 51-30 .630 5. Dodgers 53-32 .624 6. Rockies 51-32 .614 7. Angels 51-33 .607 8. Rangers 48-33 .593 Mariners 48-33 .593 10. Twins 49-34 .590 11. Cubs 46-34 .575 12. Phillies 50-39 .562 13. Cardinals 46-36 .561

It was on their own infield grass just over a week ago that the Yankees came streaming out of the dugout to celebrate Game 6's American League pennant-clinching victory over the Angels following a tough loss in Game 5. Now, they find themselves mirrored in the same position, just one win away from an 11th postseason victory they have been dreaming of for the past nine months.

"It would be great," Jorge PosadaJorge Posada said. "We're coming home and playing in front of our fans."

The Yankees were a Major League-best 57-24 at home in the regular season, tying baseball's record for wins in the first year of a stadium. That record includes a stretch of 36-10 to close out the season, furthering the notion the Bronx Bombers are pretty cozy in their new digs.

"That ballpark's been extremely kind to us," Swisher said. "And the fan base has been a big part of that."

Come Wednesday, the Yankees will try to give their fans something they've been missing since 2000: a World Series championship that signifies New York's return to baseball dominance.

The numbers are certainly with them. The Yankees became the 44th team in 105 World Series to take a 3-1 lead. Of the previous 43, the team on top has gone on to win the World Series 37 times.

"We understand that we still have a very good chance," Damon said. "And hopefully, we can take care of it on Wednesday."