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Two stories, one result.

By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com

That's what sums up Thursday's Game 5 of the World Series. Yankees starting pitcher David Wells lasted just one inning after re-injuring his lower back. His counterpart, Marlins right-hander Brad Penny, was marvelous. Brad Penny pitched seven strong inning in Game 5 to earn his second win of the Series. And as a result, Florida stands just one win from its second title in the last seven years.

Wells' departure after the first inning was deadly for the Yankees as his replacement, Jose Contreras, wasn't ready to pitch when called upon to start the second inning.

After retiring the first two batters he faced, Contreras proceeded to walk the next two. He then grooved fastballs to Alex Gonzalez and Penny and he paid for it as Gonzalez ripped a run-scoring double and Penny lined a two-run single, giving the Marlins a 3-1 lead.

Penny picked it up from there once he returned to the mound, and for the most part baffled the Yankees offensively the rest of the way. In all, Penny pitched seven innings while striking out four and walking two. Through the first six innings, he showed his effectiveness by throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 23 batters he faced.

When Marlins pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal came on the scene in mid-May this season, he stressed to Penny and the Marlins' other hardthrowers that they didn't always have to hit 98-mph on the radar gun.

Instead, Rosenthal told the pitchers to trust their other pitches and not be afraid to throw their breaking stuff. And while Penny did the reach the upper 90s on a consistent basis with a lively fastball Thursday, he also executed an array of other pitches -- a curveball, slider and a split-change -- that kept the Yankees off guard.

He's been a big performer for the Marlins in this World Series as he now has two wins in two starts to go along with a 2.19 ERA.

The series now shifts back to Yankee Stadium for Game 6, and if necessary Game 7. The Yankees will start Andy Pettitte in Game 6. It's believed Josh Beckett will be pushed up one day to oppose Pettitte on three days' rest. Beckett pitched splendidly in relief on three days' rest in Game 7 of the NLCS against the Cubs. If Beckett makes the start, Marlins manager Jack McKeon will certainly be taking a chance that his young right-hander will once respond on short rest.

Pettitte, the Yankees' best starter in the postseason, gets the chance to even the series up once again. You can be sure the Yankees will play at their highest level returning home, especially in that they will be facing elimination.