Cliff Lee sets MLB playoff strike-out record
Cliff Lee did more than just win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series for the Texas Rangers (ALCS) Monday night, he also became the first pitcher in Major League history to strike out 10 or
more batters three times in a single postseason.
Lee fanned 13 Yankee batters in Monday’s 8-0 win over the New York Yankees to give the Rangers a 2-1 series lead. He struck out 10 in Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series (ALDS) against the
Tampa Bay Rays, and he whiffed another 11 in Game 5.
“He's just phenomenal with the performances and he's so consistent,” said Rangers president Nolan Ryan, who also happens to be baseball's all-time leader in strikeouts with 5,714. "You hate to say that's
what your expectation is of him, but that's what it is because he's been so consistent that way."
Lee improved his career post season record to 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA. He’s 3-0 in this year’s playoffs with a 0.75 ERA. Not only is Lee the first to do it in a single post-season, according to the
Los Angeles Times only one other pitcher has pitched three 10+ strikeout games in the post-season in general- and that was Bob Gibson, who did it over two play-offs in 1967 and 1968.
“I've felt good for a while. I've felt good all season,” said Lee. “I've felt good every start in the postseason.”
Lee could have added to his total in bottom of the ninth, but the Rangers offense went to work in the top half of the inning, adding six runs to the two they scored in the first. With an 8-0 lead, there
was no reason to put Lee back on the mound.
“I think he's as consistent [a pitcher] that's ever pitched in the postseason,” said Ryan. “Just a carryover from last year and he's doing it again this year and I don't know anybody you can really compare
him to as far as command and the kind of games he's consistently pitched.”
Lee’s next game will come in game seven of the ALCS, if the series goes that far.
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