Phillies' Lee Untouchable in Playoff Debut

NFL News - October 8th, 2009 - Written by Scott

Cliff Lee was left off the Cleveland Indians postseason roster in 2007 because he was erratic and ineffective for most of the season. But, boy, did he look good Wednesday night in a great MLB Matchup. Making the first playoff appearance of his career, Lee threw a complete-game to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 win Wednesday afternoon. Lee struck out five, walked none and would have had a shutout if not for a desperation RBI double by Troy Tulowitzki in the top of the ninth. He did it in front of a record crowd at Citizen's Bank Ballpark as the team attempts to repeat as World Champions.

“I tried to treat it as much as a regular game as I could,” Lee said. “Obviously, there’s more excitement with a playoff game but it’s still 60 feet, 6 inches to the plate and it’s the same strike zone.”

“He was aggressive, he had good tempo and rhythm and he handled the whole flow of the game real good,” manager Charlie Manuel said.

Lee was acquired for just that reason, giving the team an extra punch with a struggling bullpen and questions after Cole Hamels. He was traded from Cleveland after it was clear the Indians were out of contention. But he had never thrown in the playoffs before and there was criticism about his choice to start Game One instead of Hamels, who was the World Series MVP last year and has a track record of success in the postseason.

But Lee proved to be a wise decision, retiring 16 consecutive batters at one point, and was only really threatened in the first inning. In that frame, Colorado loaded up on him, getting runners at first and third with one out. But the second-highest scoring offense in the NL couldn't drive home a run.

Ubaldo Jimenez was equally good for the Rockies, keeping Philadelphia off the board and basepaths through the first four innings. At one point he hit 100 mph with his fastball, but finally lost steam in the fifth. Philadelphia finally broke through in that inning when Raul Ibanez ignited the crowd with a double to score Jayson Werth. He later came in to score on a Carlos Ruiz single to go up 2-0.

Jimenez's defense let him down in the sixth inning, missing two fly balls at the warning track that led to two key runs. Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez fell victim to a brutal swirling wind, running back to his left on a Ryan Howard liner, then quickly turning to his left to unsuccessfully get his glove on the ball. That scored Chase Utley from second and set up Werth to hit another long ball to centerfield. When Dexter Fowler misplayed the pop, it caromed off an angled part of the wall and opened the door for Howard to score easily to make it 4-0.

“Had we not been dealing with the wind conditions, that ball would have been hit out of the ballpark,” Tracy said.

The Phillies haven't lost at home in the playoffs since 2007.

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