Cliff Lee shines as Philadelphia Phillies defeat Los Angeles Angels 3-1 - MLB Update
Cliff Lee tossed nothing but unplayable fastballs as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the League rivals Los Angeles Dodgers in the home series-opener at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, June 6.
The 32-year-old Lee, who had scattered 6-runs over five innings against the Washington Nationals in his previous game on May 31, recuperated with some devastating pitches.
The right-hand hurler proved to his manager he could easily replace the Majors leading pitcher Roy Halladay, who has an 8-3 record with only 2.56 ERA in 13 starts.
"I feel like it's going to come around," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I'm waiting though."
Lee kept the opposition struggling throughout his spell with swinging curveballs to write his fifth win of the season. The right-hand ball thrower crushed ten batters while allowing seven hits and one walk on 117 pitches.
"Swinging and missing more," he said. "I'm not trying to strike guys out at all. I am trying to get them out as quick as possible. For whatever reason, it's kind of gone that way."
Lee took some of the top sluggers of the Phillies including Marcus Thames, Casey Blake, Matt Kemp and Jerry Sands. None of these could manage a hit against Lee despite each entering the plate for at least two at-bats.
Antonio Bastardo maintained his form shown in his previous games and did go for any hit, as he struck-out one batter over one inning pitching to earn his third win of the season.
Lilly, on the other hand, despite tossing five hitless innings lost his fifth game as he has given two crucial runs to the Phillies. He went for an RBI single by Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard each in the same inning. However, Lilly took four batters and
allowed just one walk over six innings.
Closer Ryan Madson scattered one run on two hits, however struck-out two batters to save his 13th outing in 2011. He allowed an RBI single to Andre Ethier in the ninth inning.
"These are the kind of games we play," Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly said. "We've got to find a way to break though."
Blake Hawksworth did not give any runs over one inning but closer Mike MacDougal scattered one run on a single hit and walked two. His two strike-outs could not bring any positive thing for him as the Phillies has already cemented their 36th win of the season
with some exclusive pitching.
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