PHILADELPHIA — Brad Lidge's perfect postseason is history.

In his first World Series appearance since striking out Eric Hinske to clinch the title last year, Lidge gave up three runs in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies lost 7-4 to the New York Yankees in Game 4 tonight.

In his first World Series appearance since striking out Eric Hinske to clinch the title last year, Lidge gave up three runs in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies lost 7-4 to the New York Yankees in Game 4 on Sunday night.

The Yankees have a 3-1 lead and can clinch their 27th title in Philadelphia on Monday night.

Lidge had turned around a nightmare season by going 1-0 with three saves in three chances this postseason. He didn't pitch in the first three games against the Yankees before entering a tie game in the ninth.

After retiring the first two batters, the hard-throwing right-hander fell apart. He nearly struck out Johnny Damon on a 2-2 pitch that barely missed. Damon then lined a 3-2 pitch to left for a single. Damon stole second on the first pitch to Mark Teixeira, got up after sliding and took third with no one covering because of an exaggerated shift.

Lidge hit Teixeira with a pitch, bringing up Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod lined an RBI double to put the Yankees ahead and Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4.

Lidge hadn't allowed a run in five appearances this postseason.

Now the defending champs are on the verge of elimination. They'll turn to ace Cliff Lee, who shut down the Yankees in Game 1.

Lidge was 48 for 48 in save opportunities last season, including seven in the playoffs. Without him, the Phillies probably wouldn't have won the division let alone their second World Series title in franchise history.

But this year was a disaster for Lidge. He led the majors with 11 blown saves and went 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA, temporarily losing his closer's job a couple times.

Manager Charlie Manuel didn't commit to using Lidge exclusively as the closer when the playoffs started. But when he needed someone to preserve a 6-5 lead in Game 3 of the NL division series against Colorado, Manuel called on Lidge to pitch the ninth.

Lidge retired Rockies cleanup hitter Troy Tulowitzki with the tying run at second to secure that win. Less than 24 hours later, he struck out Tulowitzki with two runners on to finish out a 5-4 victory that sent the Phillies to the NL championship series.

Lidge pitched out of a jam to earn another save in an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS, and he got his first win of the season in Game 4 when Jimmy Rollins hit a two-out, two-run double in the ninth.