For the third straight start, Cliff Lee was on his game.
Lee provided a complete game shutout, and the offense provided enough run support to give the Phillies the 3-0 win. The win completes a four game sweep of the Marlins and extends the Phillies’ winning streak to seven games. The Phillies finished this most recent home stand with nine wins in eleven games.
Lee went nine innings, allowing no runs on just two hits while striking out four. Lee has now allowed a total of two runs in his last three starts, and has three wins during this home stand.
Instead of piling up the strike outs, Lee was using his breaking pitches to pile up the easy ground ball, pop up and fly outs for his defense. His plan was so effective, it took until Mike Stanton’s two-out single up the middle in the 6th to end his no-hit bid.
For the offense, it was all about scoring runs with two outs. After pitching four scoreless innings, Lee contributed with the bat, hitting a deep, two-out RBI double off the right-center wall to score Michael Martinez from first to make it 1-0 Phillies in the bottom of the fourth.
The Phillies did more damage with two outs in the next inning. Ryan Howard hit a solo shot to opposite field to make it 2-0. Raul Ibanez would get a double the next at bat, but was stranded on second after a a Carlos Ruiz fly-out.
The two out RBI would haunt the Marlins for the third straight inning in the bottom of the sixth. Jimmy Rollins hit a line drive double to right field that was dropped by the diving Mike Stanton. Domonic Brown scored from third on the play to give the Phils a 3-0 lead.
ROMERO DFA’d: After Thursday’s win, J.C. Romero was designated for assignment. In his place, Vance Worley was called up. Worley is set to start this weekend, potentially Saturday to give Cole Hamels an extra day with his back.
2B: Lee (2), Ibanez (15), Rollins (12) HR: Howard (15)
WP: Lee (7-5) LP: Vazquez (3-7)
TTB 