Jay-Z and Alicia Keys returned home to perform their new song “Empire State of Mind” before Game 2 of the World Series as the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed a clean version of "Empire State of Mind" from the rapper's hit album to energize the Yankee Stadium fans prior to Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night.

 Due to stormy conditions, the two New Yorkers' intended Wednesday night performance was postponed.  The song's coarse language raised some eyebrows, but Jay-Z kept it appropriate for the nationally broadcast performance.

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When the rap king, dressed in a Yankees jacket and hat, and Keys entered the stage behind second base through a hole in the left-center outfield wall, they were met with a thunderous applause.  Before joining Jay-Z in the middle of the stage for the song's conclusion, Keys, dressed in a black and hot purple ensemble, played the keyboard.

 Derek Jeter of the Yankees, who plays a few bars of "Empire State of Mind" as his at-bat song, bobbed his head during the outing.  As the Philadelphia Phillies watched intently from the top step of the visiting dugout, New York reliever Joba Chamberlain was also moving to the tune.

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When Jay-Z rapped one of the hit's iconic lines, "I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can," the crowd went wild.

 Following the concert, Jay-Z and Keys went arm in arm through the outfield to the gate to more acclaim.  Nearby, Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez was getting ready to start Game 2, but he continued to toss as the musicians vanished from view.

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Johnny Damon hit Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard with a smash with one out and runners on first and second.  Standing behind the 6-foot-4 Howard, umpire Brian Gorman instantly raised his arm to signal that the ball had been caught in the air, but television replays showed that it had instead bounced into Howard's glove.

 Before throwing to shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who tagged Jorge Posada to complete the inning-ending double play, Howard took a few steps toward first.  Manager Joe Girardi emerged from the dugout to dispute, while Posada briefly stood on second before running off the base to contest the ruling.

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After the players went back to their dugouts, the umpires assembled in the infield, but the decision remained in effect.

 Commissioner Bud Selig stated prior to the game that he still believes instant replay is not required, despite requests for its wider use stemming from a slew of umpiring errors during the playoffs.  Selig did pledge to bring up the subject further.