Cliff Lee’s dominant pitches help Philadelphia Phillies overpower Texas Rangers, 2-0
Philadelphia Phillies’ starter, Cliff Lee was remarkable with the ball as he threw eight dominant innings and struck out 10 batters in the Phillies’ 2-0 victory over the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, on May 21.
Lee threw the ball with an ERA of 3.38 as he permitted no run on five hits and gave away just two walks. Lee said of the game, “It's a little different when you pitch against a team you just played with. It wasn't off-the-charts different. Shane (Victorino)
started yelling at me from the dugout to take off and I was already thinking it so I went.”
Elvis Andrus was flown out to the right field and Mitch Moreland grounded out to second base during first inning. For the Phillies, Placido Polanco was struck out swinging. No score was added in the first inning as the pitchers threw in good line and length.
Ryan Howard hit a one-run homer (368 feet) to right field position and contributed the first run for the Phillies and led off the team with 1-0 at the end of second inning.
The batters from both teams were unable to score a run from third to fifth inning due to outstanding throws of the pitchers. Lee mixed the curveballs with his fastballs throughout his 122 pitches. Phillies’ Manager Charlie Manuel praised Lee after watching
his match-winning performance. During press conference, Manuel said, “He was outstanding, tremendous. He was aggressive and he kept going at them.”
During sixth inning, the Phillies took a 2-0 lead when John Mayberry Jr. singled to left field position and Raul Ibanez posted one run. Carlos Ruiz got out at third base and was unable to score a run. The last three innings went score-less for both sides.
The Rangers’ batters were outclassed in front of Lee and the Phillies’ closer Ryan Madison, who finished the game for his ninth save of the season. Ian Kinsler went 1-for-4 but did not give the Rangers even a single run. Kinsler said of Lee, “He pitched
a great game. He had a good fastball and moved the ball around well.”
Colby Lewis permitted two runs on seven hits in his 101 pitches. He pitched 6 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.69 and was able to strike out six batters.
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