It was a career night for Cliff Lee, who still couldn’t come away with the win.
The Phillies bats were bested by Derek Lowe and the Atlanta Braves shut out the Phillies, 5-0, evening the season series up.
Lee struck out a career high 16 batters, shattering his old mark of 13 that was recently matched earlier this season. It was the most strike outs by a Phillies pitcher since Curt Schilling’s 16 in 1997.
But it was a rough 3rd inning was the difference maker as he was on the losing end for the second time to Atlanta this year.
Lowe carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning, losing it on a lead-off single by Shane Victorino. This inning also involved the only threat the Phillies had at scoring all night.
Placido Polanco followed up Victorino’s single with a ground-rule double, which probably would have scored the Flyin’ Hawaiian if it hadn’t gone out of play.
But Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez were all struck out by reliever Eric O’Flaherty to end the scoring threat.
The Phils got a bit of a scare in the 7th. Before doubling, Polanco fouled a ball off his foot. He left the game with a bruised big toe and X-Rays came back negative.
2B: Polanco (8).
WP: Lowe (3-3). LP: Lee (2-3).
TTB 