Bronx, NY (AP) - In a game for the ages, the Phillies come back from three separate deficits of at least two runs, eventually outlasting the Yankees 11-9 in extra innings to take a commanding three games to none lead in the World Series.

Epic doesn't even begin to describe this game.  It had pretty much everything you could ask for in a contest of this magnitude.  This game went 12 innings, but in reality, it is more aptly labeled a 12-round heavyweight boxing match.  You want offense?  How does 7 home runs sound?  Pitching?  Four straight scoreless innings from the 8th through the 11th innings.  Clutch performances?  15 out of the 20 runs scored came with 2 outs.  Unlikely heroes?  Carlos Ruiz - with the game-winning two-run home run for Philadelphia, and Nick Swisher for the Yankees, launching two home runs and driving in 6 runs from the number eight spot.

"Wow doesn't even come close.  My heart can't take much more of these!" exclaimed Phils Manager Charlie Manuel in the post game press conference.  "This game was not for the faint of heart.  But, it was exciting, I'll give you that.  I'm just so proud of our guys.  They never gave up.  They were relentless, and that's why we won."

Swisher put the Phillies in a big hole, twice, hitting two 3-run bombs.

"We played like champions.  We fought like champions," said shortstop Jimmy Rollins.  "We knew we were never out of it.  We've got such an explosive offense, we feel like we're always in the game, whether we're up by 4 runs or down by 4 runs.  It doesn't matter.  We'll just keep battling you until we run out of outs."

After two tightly pitched games in Philadelphia, the expectation was for much of the same with Roy Oswalt, who had an ERA around 1.50 in the postseason for the Phillies, going up against Yankees starter Derek Lowe, who's made a reputation for shutting down teams in big situations like this (just ask the Angles, Yankees and Cardinals from 2004 - Lowe won the clinching games in all three postseason series).  Instead, neither starter made it through six innings and both were roughed up, to say the least.

"I obviously wasn't expecting to struggle like that," admitted Oswalt, who gave up seven runs in just three innings pitched.  "I put too many guys on base, and then made two really bad pitches to Swisher.  It just goes to show you, one through nine, you can't take a batter or a pitch off."

Gload got the Phils on the board with the team's first hit of the game.

New York jumped out in front in the second inning, thanks to one of those bad pitches to Swisher.  It started with a lead off single to Alex Rodriguez.  Oswalt was able to get the next two batters out.  But, "The Captain," Derek Jeter, collected a two out single.  Then, Swisher smashed one to the short porch in right, and just like that, the Bronx Bombers were up 3-0.

However, that first lead didn't last long.  In the top half of the third, Philly came roaring back.  Domonic Brown sparked the offense by drawing a walk and stealing second.  Ross Gload, getting the start as the DH, chased Brown home with a single up the middle.  Rollins drew a one out walk, then stole second to set up runners at second and third with two outs.  Chase Utley continued his clutch play at the plate with a game-tying double.

But in the bottom half of the inning, Oswalt ran into more two out trouble.  A walk and two singles game the Yanks the lead back.  Then, Swisher pounded another one deep into the night - his second three-run bomb put the Bombers up 7-3.

"That second homer was a real killer at the time," admitted Manuel.  "We had just tied it, and to give them an even bigger lead after that, you'd think, 'Well that's it, we'll get 'em tomorrow.'  But, not this team.  They just refused to quit."

Rollins helped Philly down the comeback trail with this 2 run homer in the 5th.

Once again, the Fightins' lived up to their name, battling back with a 2-run home run by Jimmy Rollins in the fifth and a game tying RBI double in the sixth inning.  And, once again, the Phils gave that lead right back in the bottom of the sixth.  This time, it was Robinson Cano connecting for a two-run blast - New York's third homer of the contest.

The Phillies also flexed some muscle in the seventh.  Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez went back-to-back with the long ball to amazingly even the two sides up at 9!

"It really was like a boxing match out there," said Howard.  "It was like as a team, we were Rocky Balboa.  We kept getting knocked down.  But then, we'd get back up and fight even harder.  We showed amazing heart."

Both bullpens finally settled down in the later innings.  Philadelphia mounted the only real serious threat to take the lead late when Placido Polanco lead off the ninth with a walk and Chase Utley singled to put the go-ahead run at second base with nobody out.  But, Howard and Ibanez each took called third strikes and Shane Victorino weakly grounded out to end the threat.

Ultimately, the relievers from both sides, including an amazing four innings thrown by Phils lefty Dan Meyer, would keep the game deadlocked at 9 until the 12th inning.  Not surprisingly, it started with a quick two out rally.  Gload doubled down the right field line.  That brought up catcher Carlos Ruiz, who had struggled much of the year at the plate, but got hot late and has had good at bats during the playoffs.  Ruiz smashed a shot to left that just barely cleared the fence, and Yankees fans could only sit in stunned silence as the Phils completed the comeback.

Close, but no cigar. Swisher can't quite come up with a home-run robbing catch from the bat of Ryan Howard.

"I was just looking for something to drive," said Ruiz.  "I knew a base hit could get the go-ahead run home, so that's all I was trying to do.  I thank God that I was able to hit a home run and give us a little more cushion."

Brad Lidge wouldn't need much cushion, as he shut the door on the Yankees, and put the Phillies that much closer to kicking New York out of the playoffs and giving his team their second world championship in four years.

"It's not over yet," warned Utley.  "They've got a very capable team, and Boston - and even our own Flyers in the NHL, have shown that anything can happen.  Winning that fourth game can be the hardest.  We've got to come out tomorrow night like it's Game Seven and keep our foot on the gas."

Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Phillies.  Yankees Manager Joe Girardi faces a tough choice - whether to bring back C.C. Sabathia on short rest, or to pitch his #4 starter.  Regardless, the Yankees do not have any room left for error.  Philadelphia goes for the sweep tomorrow night in the Bronx, game time 7:05pm.