Lee blasts first homer, but left to fend for self in loss

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As Cliff Lee fouled off fastball after fastball, the rumble in the stands intensified, until the left-handed pitcher did something at the plate that few other Phillies could on this day: emphatically contacted bat with ball.

Lees third-inning home run -- the first of his nine-year big league career -- turned out to be the only run the home nine would score Saturday against the Braves imposing pitching staff. Instead of sparking a second straight victory, the memorable blast proved to be the lone highlight in a frustrating defeat.

In the moment, though, it was easy to perceive the homer as another dose of Citizens Bank Park magic.

First, Lee took a page out of the Brett Myers handbook, fouling away five straight Tommy Hanson darts after taking two balls to start the at-bat.

With pitch eight came a tantalizing curveball, but Lee did not bite. So Hanson went back to the heater and again Lee fouled it back.

In the dugout, a crazy thought popped into cleanup hitter Ryan Howards head.

If hed have hit that, Howard said, it mightve had a chance.

The foul ball brought a thunderous applause, which was soon drowned out by deafening cheers. On pitch 10, Lee launched Hansons tailing, high-and-away fastball into the clear air before it eventually landed in section 121s front row, above on-looking Atlanta rightfielder Jason Heyward.

I hit it pretty good, Lee said in a characteristic understatement after the game.

Call it a mix of Myers famous 2008 duel with then-Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia capped off with a touch of Joe Blanton in World Series Game 4though the last Phils pitcher to hit a home run was actually Chan Ho Park in Florida on April 25, 2009. The feat drew a rousing standing ovation from the 45,647 at the ballpark, culminating in a curtain call.

Not that the fans needed any more reason to shower Lee with love, as he also dominated on the mound yet again.

The hard-to-believe sequence may have evoked memories of Myers for some, but not for Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

No, Manuel said when asked if the at-bat reminded him of Myers. Because this one went out.

Nonetheless, the similarities still exist. Hanson hasnt reached 2008-Sabathia level, but the hulking 24-year-old righty has been on quite a roll. Though Lees solo shot denied Hanson of his sixth straight win, he still silenced the rest of Phillies bats over seven innings of work and lowered his ERA to 2.44, fourth-best in the National League.

And Lee, like Myers and Blanton, saved his shining moment at the dish for a big series. Yes, these three games with the Braves are being played in July rather than October, but both teams could improve their chances of reaching the postseason with good showings this weekend.

Unlike Blanton, however, Lee said after the game that his eyes were not closed when he took his hack.

No, my eyes were definitely open, he said with a laugh.

That Lees hit came in a matchup where runs are very hard to come by made it all the more impressive.

That was a good at-bat, Manuel said. That was good hitting.

He couldnt say that of many other Phillies at-bats, as the ten position players he sent to the plate combined to go just 5 for 37 against Hanson and four Atlanta relievers.

In other words, this evolved into a typical Lee start this season. Of the 19 games Lee has started, the Phillies have averaged of 3.57 runs, leaving the pitcher to attempt to support himself. Hes done a heck of a job of it, too, sporting a .225 average, including two doubles. Coupled with his one stolen base earlier this season, Lee even became the first pitcher with a homer and a steal in the same season since Greg Maddux in 2005.

After single handedly keeping the game at a 1-1 tie for seven-and-a-half innings, however, Lee was replaced by pinch hitter Ben Francisco in the bottom of the eighth.

Francisco struck out on five pitches.

On this day, perhaps giving the lineups ace-in-the-hole slugger another crack at it would have been a wiser choice.

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