Its all Lee as Phillies continue winning roll

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LOS ANGELESThings are going so well for the Phillies that now theyre calling their shots and laughing out loud when they make them.

On the bus ride from the team hotel to the ballpark late Tuesday afternoon, broadcaster Sarge Matthews and Cliff Lee were talking about how difficult it was to hit a ball completely out of Dodger Stadium, you know, over the roof of the outfield pavilion. Matthews told Lee that Willie Stargell (twice), Mike Piazza and Mark McGwire were the only guys to do it.

Lee listened to Sarge talk about the difficulty of the feat and said: Ill do it tonight.

Lee didnt clear the pavilion roof. He didnt even hit it as far as Matt Stairs did in the 2008 National League Championship Series. But he did hit a home run into the right-field seats, and it was a big one, the difference-maker, in fact, in the Phillies 2-1 win over the Dodgers.

I was just joking when I said Id do it, Lee said after pitching eight scoreless innings and striking out 10 for his 12th win. I didnt hit it out of the stadium, but I did hit a home run.

The homer was Lees second of the season in 53 at-bats. With the count 2-and-0 in the seventh inning, and his team ahead just 1-0, Lee was looking for something to drive from lefty Ted Lilly and he got itan 81-mph changeup over the plate.

Lee has made his love of hitting and the NL style of play well known and he was practically giddy, smiling and laughing, as he reached the Phillies dugout after his home run. He even made a gesture as if to wipe off his hands as he reached the dugout.

What was that all about?

I was just messing with KK, he said, referring to teammate Kyle Kendrick.

Turns out the two had a little wager riding on the home run.

The Big 4 startersLee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalthave a season-long wager on who swings the bat best. Lee said he and Kendrick had a side deal.

Lees big offensive night also included a sacrifice bunt that preceded Jimmy Rollins RBI double in the third.

Asked what was most satisfying, his contribution with the bat or his arm, Lee said, Both.

Lee appears to be on another one of his rolls on the mound. He was 5-0 and allowed just one run in 42 innings in June. In two starts in Augustboth on this 8-1 roadtriphe has racked up 17 scoreless innings while striking out 18. Lee followed his big June with a pedestrian showing in July (1-2, 4.91 ERA). Why is he so streaky?

I dont know, manager Charlie Manuel said. Joe DiMaggio was streaky. Fifty-six games. Thats the way it goes sometimes. The baseball godsthey will leave you, too.

The gods are with the Phillies right now. They are 36 games over .500 for the first time since 1977. A win Wednesday afternoon will give them a 9-1 roadtrip, their best ever on a 10-game journey.

Actually, the gods of baseball have little to do with the Phillies run of success. Theyre just good. Plain good. And it all starts with pitching performances like Tuesday nights.

Cliff had good tempo and rhythm, Manuel said. He commands the game. He slows it down and speeds it up. He stays relaxed. Thats what makes him go, as long as his command doesnt leave him.

Lee had excellent pop and location on his fastball. He also had a deceptive changeup for the second straight outing.

Its been a big pitch for me the last couple of games, Lee said. Ive had a good feel for it the last week.

Lee gave up just four singles Tuesday night. Two of them came in the first inning as the Dodgers mounted an early threat. Lee stayed cool and struck out the dangerous pair of Andre Ethier and Matt Kempboth on changeupson his way to getting out of trouble. Lee struck out two in an inning three other times in the game. He might have had a shot at his second straight shutout, but his pitch count swelled in the late innings and Ryan Madson was called on for the ninth inning and his 21st save.

No sense in getting greedy. A home run and a win on the same night were enough for Lee.

E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.

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