Cliff Lee's Two-Hit Gem Helps Phillies Sweep Marlins
By: Mike Reisman
Today, the Cliff Lee and the Phillies had the chance to do something that they haven't done since 2001: complete a four game sweep of the Florida Marlins. This challenge wasn't too stiff for the Phillies, as Cliff Lee has been nearly flawless at home this season, and he was looking to improve his home record to 6-1. Best of all, he would get to do it against Javier Vazquez who came into the game with a pitiful 7.09 ERA.
The Phillies missed an early opportunity to score in the 1st, when Carlos Ruiz fouled out to first with the bases loaded to end the inning. They wouldn't score until the 4th, when Cliff Lee would be his own run support, getting his second double of the year off of the base of the left field wall, and giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. The next inning, Ryan Howard would hit his 15th home run of the year, a solo shot, giving the Phillies a two run lead.
On the other side of the ball, Cliff Lee would work incredibly effectively, holding a no-hitter through 4.2 innings, and only walking two batters all game. He would also allow only two hits, and would not allow a single Marlin into scoring position. More on him later though.
Jimmy Rollins would hit a 6th inning double, making the score 3-0 Phillies, and the game would end that way, giving Lee his 7th win of the year, and giving Javier Vazquez his 7th loss, despite only allowing two runs.
Cliff Lee was phenomenal today, allowing just four base runners all game. Although he only struck out four batters in his complete game shutout, Lee was incredibly efficient, throwing just 117 pitches through his nine innings, much better than his starting counterpart Vazquez who threw 101 pitches over just five innings. However, Lee also contributed with his bat, going 2-3 with a double, and what ended up being the go-ahead run. Lee is now 8-20 in his last 20 at-bats, great for any pitcher and especially a former American League pitcher.
Though Lee did well, the rest of the Phillies did not fare the same way. Despite gathering 10 hits, the Phillies only managed three runs, and seemed to fall flat, especially with runners in scoring position, where they were a mere 1-7. The Phillies are now batting just .251 as a team with RISP this year, and though they don't need many runs with the pitchers that they have, these are opportunities that they need to convert in order to score runs, and keep their offense performing at the level it has shown it's capable of playing at.
Tonight the Phillies travel to Seattle to start a series with the Mariners tomorrow at 10:10 as Roy Oswalt will take on rookie ace Michael Pineda.