Lee dominates for Phillies in CG win over Cards

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Posted: 10:35 p.m.Updated: June 23, 12:45 a.m.

By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com

BOX SCORE

ST. LOUISCliff Lee began his 16th start of the season on Wednesday night by throwing seven straight balls.

Charlie Manuel, who has seen just about everything baseball can offer in nearly a half century in the pro game, exercised restraint in the Phillies dugout.

I figured I better not jump up and take him out, the manager said. Let him work through it.

Lee worked through it pretty nicely. He asked the umpire for a new ball after his seventh pitch then proceeded to pitch his second straight shutout in beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0, at Busch Stadium.

I was just hoping it was the ball, Lee said of his request for a new baseball after his uncharacteristically wild beginning. I dont know what it was. I couldnt make the adjustment.

Lee eventually got his control down. He allowed just six hits and walked one in going the distance for his league-leading third shutout. He is the first Phillie to pitch back-to-back shutouts since Cory Lidle in 2004.

It was a good thing that Lee gave the bullpen a night off because that unit was a man down. Jose Contreras elbow is sore and he appears headed back to the disabled list.

Lee is on his best roll of the season. He has won his last four starts, all in June, allowing just one run in 33 innings over that span. He is riding a 23-inning scoreless streak and is now 8-5 with a 2.87 ERA. Like Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay, he is going to receive a lot of consideration to be on the National League all-star team. Hamels and Halladay are both 9-3 with ERAs of 2.51.

Lee hails from the Little Rock, Ark., area, which is about a six-hour drive from St. Louis. He pitched in front of a number of family and friends and left 17 passes for the game. He put on a pretty good show.

So, too, did St. Louis native Ryan Howard, who bashed a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Jimmy Rollins also homered in the fourth.

Howard has 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 42 career games against the Cardinals. Nine of those homers and 34 of those RBIs have come in 25 games at Busch Stadium.

Howards success at home might not necessarily be attributable to home cooking. Thats because he swears by take-out. He said St. Louis has some great Chinese restaurants. Whatever the case, the Phils would like it if Howard drove in a couple of more runs in Thursday nights series finale.

Its home, said Howard, trying to explain the hot bat he swings in St. Louis. Its nice to play where it all began, in front of family and friends. Its comfortable. You see old coaches, people you went to high school with.

Howard now has 61 RBIs, two shy of league leader Prince Fielder.

Lee threw a career-high 126 pitches in his shutout. Mondays off day will allow him an extra day of rest before his next start, Tuesday against Boston. Manuel never really considered taking Lee out. The left-hander was in control all the way and, other than some heavy perspiration on a humid night, did not appear to be taxed.

Its total gratification to go nine innings, Lee said. Back in the day, pitchers did it all the time. I think I could have pitched the 10th and 11th, too.

Lee had recently mixed in more curveballs to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. In this game, he didnt throw as many curveballs. He used his cutter to great success.

That pitch was big for me, Lee said.

Other than the start of the game, when he couldnt find the strike zone, Lees only real trouble spot came in the third when he allowed a leadoff double and a one-out single. He rolled a double-play ball to get out of trouble.

Cliffs got a great tempo going right now, Howard said. He and Carlos Ruiz have a great game plan. Theyre going out and executing. Hes just being Cliff.

Asked what he believed was the key to the roll he is on, Lee shared the credit.

Im throwing strikes, were making plays and scoring runs, he said. Were playing complete baseball. Its a group effort. Hopefully it continues.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSalisburyCSN.

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