The three-run homer extended the National League Championship Series another game and the Astros won it. Lidge was forgiven and redemption followed last season when he was nearly perfect in the postseason for the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the World Series.

But there may be no recovering from the mistakes Lidge made last night as any chance the Phillies have at repeating as champions may have been lost.

Called on for the first time in this World Series, Lidge was a strike away from giving his team last ups in a tie game. But that strike never came as Lidge allowed three ninth-inning runs in a game the Yankees won, 7-4.

“You’re frustrated when it doesn’t work out, especially in the postseason,’’ Lidge said. “This is one of those times when it’s hard on a pitcher.’’

Lidge had a rocky regular season, going 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA and blowing 11 saves. But he appeared to have straightened himself out in the postseason, throwing four scoreless innings and striking out four in five appearances. After temporarily losing his job as the closer, Lidge regained his confidence after a series of clean outings as manager Charlie Manuel spotted him carefully.

But Lidge did not appear in any of the first three World Series games. He was not needed in Game 1, when Cliff Lee threw a complete game. The Phillies lost the two games that followed and Lidge waited for his opportunity.

That finally came last night when the Phillies tied the score at 4 in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo home run by Pedro Feliz. Charlie Manuel turned to his closer, hoping that the Phillies would be able to hold the Yankees down, then win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Lidge got pinch hitter Hideki Matsui, who homered Saturday night, to pop to shortstop. He then struck out Derek Jeter.

Johnny Damon fouled off three two-strike pitches before dropping a single into left field. With the Phillies in a shift to the right side against Mark Teixeira, Damon stole second, jumped up, and took third base.

Lidge was supposed to be covering the base and did not.

“That was a weird play,’’ Lidge said. “We got into a footrace and he is faster than I am. He got there before me. He’s a very heads-up player and he was able to take an extra base.’’

Lidge hit Teixeira with a pitch before Alex Rodriguez gave the Yankees the lead with a double to left. Jorge Posada followed with a two-run single.

The crowd at Citizens Bank Park sat in stunned silence.

“I threw a decent pitch [to Rodriguez],’’ Lidge said. “He did a good job hitting. . . . They had some good at-bats late in the game.’’

Lidge had last pitched Oct. 21. But the long break was not to blame, he said.

“No, I was fine,’’ he said. “I felt good out there.’’

Manuel did not second guess the idea of using Lidge in that situation.

“Did he lose his focus? I think the first two hitters he did real well. He was up 1-and-2 in the count on Damon. . . . But once [Damon] stole [second], I don’t know. He was having trouble.’’

And now it’s the Phillies who are in trouble, and Lidge can only hope he will pitch again this season.

“It’s always tough. You always want to go out there and get good results,’’ he said. “Any time you don’t do well, it’s frustrating. . . . We’ve got to get back to New York. Hopefully I get another chance to get out there.’’