Cliff Lee masterful in Game 3 of ALCS
Cliff Lee proved just how dominant a pitcher he is last night at Yankee Stadium, going eight innings while allowing only two hits and no runs as the Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 8-0 to take
a 2-1 series lead in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).
If the Yankees are going to win the ALCS, they’re going to need to win the next three straight, or figure out how to beat Lee, even if it means someone has to sneak into the Rangers locker room and steal
his hat.
"He's spoiling us," said Rangers president Nolan Ryan. "What can you say, it's one performance after another. He's phenomenal." Lee also struck out 13 batters last night.
"I was just throwing strikes," Lee said. "The cutter was a really good pitch for me today. I was working ahead in the count and staying out of the heart of the plate. That's the name of the game as far
as pitching goes, and I was able to do that tonight."
Josh Hamilton gave Lee all the offense he needed in the first inning, hitting a two-run shot off Andy Pettitte. They scored another six runs in the top of the ninth to crush any chance of a New York comeback.
Texas has now out-scored New York in this series 20-8.
Lee improved his post-season record this year to 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA. His career post-season record is 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA. It’s fitting that Lee got at least one chance to pitch against Pettitte, who
is the all-time leader in post season victories with 19, since he could very well own that record himself one day.
Pettitte settled down after the first inning, and pitched six scoreless innings before handing the ball over to Kerry Wood, who pitched a scoreless eighth.
The game was still exciting as the ninth began with the Rangers holding a slim two-run lead over one of the most powerful offenses in the league, but a six-run ninth for Texas sent the home crowd flooding
out of the stadium before the Yankees even had a chance to bat.
The Yankees will be looking for revenge in Game 4 Tuesday night, but with the way Texas has been playing, the Yankees may have to wait till next year to exact some measure of revenge.
“Obviously, we have played well for three games,” said Rangers’ outfielder Jeff Francoeur. “But we know the power of that other lineup and what they can do. We just have to keep the pedal to the metal
because we know how powerful they are. We can't let up the throttle.”
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